A first Premier League win of the season for Newcastle United, as Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa both shine, Matthais Jaissle's first win, and an impressive debut for Nico Gonzalez.
An impressive away outing for the Magpies didn't come easy, surviving Spurs' pressure for the first 45 minutes. Still, Elanga and Wissa chimed in with the goals that were ultimately the difference for Newcastle, who added more misery to Spurs' dreadful start to the season.
Here are the takeaways.
Nico Gonzalez adds control in midfield
Newcastle's newest signing was in action against Spurs, and you can already see the difference he brings in midfield. He added control and an engine in the central areas, which was a big part of the 2-0 win.
Nico Gonzalez held the ball, bringing stability to the game and preventing it from spinning out of control, as happened in their opener against Liverpool.
Jaissle said in his pre-match interview that his new signing would bring quality to the team and he did so just 30 seconds into the match with a ball into Anthony Elanga which allowed him to get a shot off. He then played the same ball again in the second half, finding its way to Amar Dedic, who headed it on for Elanga, who put Newcastle into the lead.
It's wild that Manchester City didn't give the 24-year-old more chances to prove his ability in their side; the nickname "Mini Rodri" speaks volumes about what City fans thought of him.
But City's loss is now Newcastle's gain. They have already seen a glimpse of what he is capable of, whether it's holding it down in midfield, controlling and continuing a passing move, or picking out a teammate to get them into the box, as he did with Elanga. He might be the bargain of the summer for the Magpies.
Amar Dedic is owning that RB spot
Another great outing for Dedic, who was pivotal in defence and in attack. He is making that RB spot his and making it harder for Tino Livramento to come back and slot back in there.
He pushed up high with the team and contributed to the attack, but his work rate to get back into the box and make decisive tackles, clearing the ball away, which he had to do a few times in the first half, was key to keeping it 0-0 for much of the first 45 minutes.
Even just positioning himself in the box and moving his body to block shots, it's the little things that have made him popular with Newcastle fans already. I said it midweek after the West Brom game, but after watching another impressive performance from him today, it's hard to see how Livramento could get back in.
There is no taking Dedic out of that RB spot, based on recent performances.
Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga are finding success under Matthias Jaissle
New manager, fresh opportunities for players already at the club whose previous seasons may not have gone well, which is the case for Elanga and Wissa, who have found their feet under Matthias Jaissle already.
Elanga struggled to score a Premier League goal for much of last season, and Wissa struggled to get going after an injury setback kept him out for the first half of the campaign.
But Elanga got his first goal of the season against Liverpool last Sunday, with a swift finish past Alisson. Then, against Spurs, he sprinted away from his former teammate Sandro Tonali, took a touch, did a 360 spin, and took a left-footed shot across Antonin Kinsky, which went in off the far post.
Elanga was a menace whenever he was on the counter-attack, given his pace and ability to get past defenders swiftly, and he looked confident in his movement.
Wissa started as a No.9 and again was waiting to pounce whenever he could, much like he did last Sunday when he was in the No.10; he was there to receive the ball, continue to play it forward, and be ready in the box for a chance to come.
Magpies defensively on point
Newcastle hadn't kept a clean sheet since March 14th; for much of last season, we dropped points from winning positions, often ending it in a draw or defeat. Last Sunday against Liverpool, we gave away two goals, one being Lewis Hall's penalty, and in midweek only just won 3-2 against West Brom in the Carabao Cup.
But the defence against Spurs on Saturday evening was the best it has looked; I spoke about Dedic and how decisive he was in key moments. But also Hall, Malick Thiaw, and Sven Botman were there to make tackles or blocks, or to be physical with Spurs when needed.
They were focused and determined not to let anything get past them; even Lukas Hornicek made key saves that aided that defensive effort and added further motivation.
Bodies on the line, and the result was a first clean sheet in their second game of the new League season.
Four points in two games under Jaissle, leaving them third in the League; it is still early days, but a crisis? I think not.
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