Xavi Simons finally announced his arrival at Tottenham Hotspur with a decisive goal and assist, powering his side to a much-needed 2-0 Premier League victory over Brentford. The performance provided a huge relief for the £52million signing and under-pressure head coach Thomas Frank, ending a run of five matches without a win.
A Long-Awaited Breakthrough
Arriving with immense pedigree from Barcelona's academy, Paris Saint-Germain, and RB Leipzig, Simons had struggled to live up to his billing in his first 18 appearances for Spurs, failing to find the net. With key creators James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski sidelined, the pressure on the young Dutchman had been mounting, culminating in a month starting games from the bench.
His inclusion from the start against Brentford, his first since the draw with Manchester United in early November, immediately injected creative ambition into Spurs' play around the penalty area. While his initial efforts were wayward, his persistence paid off midway through the first half.
Turning Point at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The opening goal came from Simons' invention. Collecting a pass from Pedro Porro on the right wing, he fizzed a perfect low cross behind the Brentford defence for the onrushing Richarlison, who emphatically converted for his fourth goal in six appearances.
Spurs dominated the first half, and the second belonged to Simons. After initially losing possession, he won it back from Sepp van den Berg, sprinted clear of the chasing Yehor Yarmoliuk, and coolly slotted past the advancing Caoimhin Kelleher. His celebration—leaping onto the advertising boards to perform his trademark telephone call—was met with palpable relief around the stadium.
Spurs Dominate to Ease Pressure
The victory was a rare positive home result in the Premier League, with Tottenham having secured only three league wins in the calendar year prior to Brentford's visit. Thomas Frank's tactical gamble to omit midfield protector Joao Palhinha in search of more adventure paid off, with Spurs creating numerous chances.
Brentford, dangerous on the break, threatened occasionally. Guglielmo Vicario made a key early save from Igor Thiago, and Kelleher performed well for the Bees, denying Djed Spence, Mohamed Kudus, and Pape Matar Sarr. Kudus even had a goal disallowed for offside against Wilson Odobert.
Simons could have had a hat-trick late on when Kelleher was stranded, but Richarlison's square pass found him with the goalkeeper back in position. Nonetheless, this was a definitive and positive step for both player and club, offering a glimpse of the game-changing talent Spurs hoped they had signed to help fill the void left by Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
