Heung-min Son could etch his name further into Tottenham folklore by scoring the goals to derail Arsenal’s title bid.
The Spurs captain is preparing himself for Sunday’s north London derby with both sides eyeing both a win and bragging rights as the season draws to a close.
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This weekend’s clash is shaping up to be a crucial one with Spurs needing maximum points in their quest for a top four finish, while anything less than a win would all-but end Arsenal’s title hopes.
Son will be licking his lips in anticipation of Sunday’s 195th meeting between the two clubs, with an added incentive.
No stranger to an emphatic derby-day moment, Son has seven goals to his name in 19 appearances against the Gunners making him the fourth-highest scorer in north London derby history.
Scorer of two superb finishes in the reverse fixture at the Emirates in September, the South Korean's heroics stretch far wider than goals, having also registered five assists during his tussles with Arsenal.
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The 2015 signing from Bayer Leverkusen is just two goals away from equaling Robert Pires’ nine-goal derby haul and what better timing to overtake the Gunners legend whilst putting a huge dent in Arsenal’s title aspirations.
“I know what it means for the club and the fans and players as well,” Son said ahead of the fixture last September. “We as players should understand what kind of game it is."
A hat-trick would see Son surpass the Frenchman whilst closing in on former Arsenal and Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
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The former Togo international has netted ten times in the fixture – eight for Arsenal and two for Tottenham.
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Adebayor’s goal return, although admirable, falls way below that of Son’s former Spurs teammate Harry Kane.
The now-Bayern Munich striker was a thorn in the Gunners’ side having notched a staggering 14 goals in north London derbies.
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But Kane’s exit has handed Son the opportunity to carry on his legacy in the fixture and the chance to follow the England skipper is helping further misery on the Gunners following their Champions League exit at the hands of Kane and co.
The 31-year-old is up to 15 league goals for the season and just five adrift of joint-top scorers Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer in the race for the Golden Boot.
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And in the eyes of Spurs fans, there would be no better place to start a late-season surge to reclaim the award he scooped in the 2021/22 campaign, than Sunday’s north London showdown.