Gallery: Player Ratings – Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Aston Villa

Victory by a comfortable margin, a winning start to the new season. Enjoy, celebrate. Move on.

Don’t, for a moment, dwell on the turgid first half.

Except City and Liverpool had already announced the relentless nature of the race to the top this season and we’d been here before: the pre-season victories with kids against the top sides in the world; the phoney trophies … and then the season realities and two months of draws and the occasional defeat.

So well done, Poch. Was it a tactical call at half time or just the rocket inserted? No matter. Right now, I’m joining everyone else and we’re celebrating. Not just the victory and the points and the season start but the fact that we looked like a team for twenty minutes there and the season ahead has the promise we hoped for.

Sanchez – 5

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Looks good for most of the game. Made a great last ditch tackle that wasn’t a penalty. But is still caught out, notably for the goal when he was neither decisive nor strong.