Tottenham Hotspur are on a disappointing run of form, with just one point from their last three Premier League games. This poor run of form has been driven by poor performances from many individuals in the squad. The decline of captain Son Heung-min has been the most notable, with the South Korean star often being a source of inspiration and a symbol for the North London club.
Since joining Spurs from Leverkusen in August 2025, Son has contributed greatly to the game and often created decisive moments. In the 2018-2019 Champions League, the striker born in 1992 scored 3 goals in 2 quarter-final matches against Man City, making a great contribution to bringing the "Rooster" to the final.
In the 2021-2022 season, Son continued to shine, helping Tottenham finish in the Top 4 when he won the "Golden Boot" award with Mohamed Salah. In the previous campaign, when Richarlison was absent for a long time due to injury, the 32-year-old striker excelled in the role of striker with 17 goals and 10 assists in 35 Premier League matches.
However, Son's form has been alarming since returning from injury in early November. In the 2-2 draw against Wolves, the Korean star had a disappointing performance with a failed penalty and was substituted early in the second half.
As a result, Tottenham finished in the bottom half of the table for the first time since 2008-09. Even more disappointing, Spurs have failed to win five consecutive home games (the worst run in 15 years).
Son is not entirely responsible for Tottenham's poor form, but he is no longer the man to carry the burden of the team's struggles. In 16 Premier League games this season, the 32-year-old has scored just five goals, and just two in December.
Son Heung-min's poor form has been caused by a number of issues, but injury has been the biggest culprit this season. In the early stages, the South Korean striker suffered hamstring and thigh injuries that saw him miss 10 of Tottenham's matches in all competitions.
Despite returning from injury in early November, the Spurs captain still showed the effects of his injury as he lacked sharpness and decisiveness in his handling. In addition, Tottenham played 11 matches in 36 days and Son participated in all of them. The dense schedule of matches made it difficult for him to maintain his best form.
Previously, Son Heung-min and Harry Kane were Tottenham's explosive duo with their well-coordinated plays and clever runs. However, under Ange Postecoglou, the 1992-born star's role has changed. He often plays independently, having to dribble and handle the ball in tight spaces more - something that is not Son's forte.
The change is reflected in Son’s shooting statistics. Last season, he scored from an average distance of 13.7 metres with an expected goals per shot (xG) of 0.13. This season, his shooting distance has increased to 15.3 metres and his xG has dropped to 0.11. This suggests that the 32-year-old is getting fewer chances from good positions.
In addition, Tottenham currently lack quality options to rotate the squad. Richarlison, Timo Werner and Wilson Odobert are all injured, forcing Son Heung-min to work continuously. The Korean star is 6th on the list of minutes played in the Spurs squad this season.
“I wanted to reduce Son’s workload at the start of the season but we lost Odobert, Richarlison and Solanke. The injuries meant he played more than I had planned. However, Son always wants to play and we will still consider carefully to protect his fitness,” Ange Postecoglou shared.
A break could be just what Son needs. After the Wolves game, the North Londoners have two days off before facing Newcastle at the weekend, giving Son and his teammates a chance to recover physically and mentally.
