Tottenham – Arsenal (Premier League) / Jimmy Greaves record, cap of 200: Harry Kane, a derby for history

It is always good to remember the sometimes forgotten legends. Jimmy Greaves was one of the greatest players in English football. He remains the record holder for the number of goals scored in the English top flight with 357 achievements. Ranked third in the 1963 Ballon d’Or, he topped the English Premier League goalscoring charts six times before it became the Premier League from 1992. Greaves compiled statistics mind-boggling. A number will never be enough to sum up his immense career.

Not even his 266 goals which still make him the top scorer in Tottenham history. But it says enough about the feat that Harry Kane is about to achieve. By giving Spurs victory against Portsmouth (1-0) in the FA Cup last week, the English international scored for the 265th time in the London jersey. It is only one unit away from a record, the scope of which remains relative. “He has value primarily for Spurs fans and the older generation, who grew up watching Greaves in the 1960s“, explains Ben Snowball, journalist with the English editorial staff of Eurosport.

“A negative as well as a positive”

Perhaps he would have been valued more if fate had decided otherwise. If Greaves’ shin had not crossed the studs of French midfielder Joseph Bonnel during the third group match of the 1966 World Cup. Fourteen stitches later, the Spurs striker had given way to a certain Geoff Hurst at the forefront of the Three Lions attack for the rest of the tournament. And much more than that. “IThere is genuine admiration for Greaves as one of England’s greatest ever strikers, although his omission from the squad that won the World Cup undoubtedly – and cruelly – robbed him of status. national hero outside of football“, summarizes Ben Snowball.

If Greaves had donned the costume worn for eternity by Hurst, the record that Kane is very close to equaling would certainly have been of another dimension. It would nonetheless be the biggest achievement of the Spurs captain’s career so far. “Probably, but that’s as much a negative as a positive.loves Ben Snowball. It is common knowledge that Kane has not won a major trophy in club or international football, despite being one of the best players in the world for nearly a decade..”

Arsenal, the perfect opportunity

Fate is made that way. He was not necessarily less cruel with Kane than with Greaves. The highlight of his career should have come a month ago, when he equaled Wayne Rooney’s England record for goals (53) with a penalty against France in the quarter-finals. of the World Cup final. But circumstances have irreparably limited its scope. Kane precipitated the fall of the Three Lions by dispatching another penalty over the bar of Hugo Lloris. And he will forever have bad memories of this historic evening.

Kane had both matched Rooney and missed that date with history. It wasn’t the last for the Tottenham centre-forward, however. There’s already Greaves’ record to pick up. And this rascal of fate wanted the first opportunity to present itself in a derby against Arsenal, the sworn enemy. “It would be glorious for Spurs supportersrecognizes Ben Snowball. The balance of power returned to Arsenal in north London after a long spell of Tottenham dominance, which was very rare in the years before Kane. He is the derby’s top scorer with 14 goals and Spurs fans would love nothing more for him to break Greaves’ record against their rivals.”

Shearer’s record? “A Matter of Time”

The Lillywhites are just waiting for this. “Especially since it would hurt Arsenal’s title ambitions, which is Spurs’ biggest worry right now.“, specifies Ben Snowball rightly. That would give this record the flavor it deserves. “For Kane to get him at 29 would be remarkable given Greaves’ mind-blowing goalscoring numbersadds Ben Snowball. But the record that matters most to football fans in England is his pursuit of Alan Shearer’s 260 Premier League goals.”

Exactly. If he were to score a brace against Arsenal, Kane would not only bring down the legendary brand of Greaves. He would especially reach the milestone of 200 goals in the Premier League. “Greaves’ record will matter to Tottenham fans, but all of England will wonder how the hell the kid who was meant to be a one-season wonder became such a lethal finisher, says Ben Snowball. Only Shearer and Rooney have reached the 200 Premier League goal mark. And it only seems a matter of time before Kane passes them both.“To arrive at this figure against Arsenal would be highly symbolic. A milestone for Kane towards his greatest appointment with history.