Lamela wins Premier League award for ‘rabona’ against Arsenal
Fri 02 April 2021, 13:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Erik Lamela has won the Premier League’s Budweiser Goal of the Month award for March following his stunning goal in the north London derby.
On as a substitute for the injured Heung-Min Son at the Emirates on 14 March, the Argentine international gave us the lead in stunning fashion shortly beyond the half-hour mark, wrapping his left foot around the back of his right to hook the ball through the legs of his marker and into the bottom corner amid a congested penalty box.
It wasn’t the first time he’d scored a ‘rabona’ in our colours – he did likewise from the edge of the area in a Europa League victory over Asteras Tripolis at White Hart Lane back in October, 2014.
Sadly, the derby ended in disappointment for Erik and the whole team, our 2-1 defeat compounded by the attacker’s dismissal after collecting two yellow cards in the second half.
Nevertheless, his moment of individual brilliance has been chosen for this month’s Premier League prize. Harry Kane was also on the final shortlist for the award following the first of his two goals in our 4-1 home win over Crystal Palace on 7 March.
“It was a good goal, but I always say thank you to my team-mates,” said Erik. “I think Reggy (Sergio Reguilon) passed to Lucas, I was waiting for the ball to come for my left foot, I ran into the space but Lucas wasn’t looking at me so he tried to pass me the ball short and then it was in one second that I decided to shoot like this.
“In that moment, I didn’t think too much, I just started running and celebrating the goal, running to all my team-mates. I was very emotional. Sometimes I kick the ball in training like this as well, but it’s not something that I really train for. Since I was young, I shoot like this sometimes.”
Interview - Erik discusses his award
Erik, whose strike is also up for our own Goal of the Month award, becomes our first player to take the Premier League’s monthly honour since Heung-Min Son in December, 2019, his solo goal at home to Burnley also eventually named the division’s Goal of the Season.
Our Premier League Goal of the Month winners
Award introduced at the start of the 2016/17 season
Victor Wanyama v Liverpool – February, 2018
Christian Eriksen v Chelsea – April, 2018
Heung-Min Son v Chelsea – November, 2018
Heung-Min Son v Burnley – December, 2019
Erik Lamela v Arsenal – March, 2021
