Tottenham Hotspur came from behind twice to draw with Norwich City on Saturday and prevent the hosts from securing a much-needed victory. The Canaries were also unfortunate to have a Teemu Pukki goal ruled out for offside by the tightest of margins. Ultimately the result leaves Daniel Farke’s side bottom of the table heading into the New Year, six points from safety. But it could have all been so different if Norwich had been able to finish off more of Emiliano Buendia’s chances.
Though he is yet to find the back of the net in the Premier League, Buendia has been one of the most creative players in the division, and he has provided the most assists of any Norwich player this season, six. That means the Argentine is averaging contributing to a goal every three matches; an impressive feat considering his side have the fifth-worst goal scoring record in the Premier League this season.
But it is at the other end of the pitch the Canaries have struggled most, and Buendia helped out admirably against Spurs, making a team-high six tackles from the right side of midfield. A further three interceptions and one clearance rounded off an excellent performance pressing the opposition high in their own half.
With Norwich in the ascendency on the pitch, the majority of their attacking play came through the 23-year-old. No player in yellow and green made more than his 85 per cent accuracy, though it was how he used the ball that was most impressive. Buendia made the same number of key passes, two, as the rest of the Norwich City squad combined against Spurs and was rewarded with another assist. He is now up to fourth on the list for assists this season in esteemed company alongside Sadio Mane and David Silva.
The only area of Buendia’s game that could do with some work is his finishing, and he failed to get himself into any goalscoring positions against Spurs. Though with the number of chances he is creating for teammates, Farke’s side ought to have seen off Tottenham and entered the year level with Watford owing to the significant contribution of the Argentine maestro at Carrow Road.
