Thomas Frank may have identified Spurs’ new Mousa Dembélé in the match against Newcastle.
Tottenham Hotspur struck in stoppage time to overturn Newcastle United’s controversial late penalty at St. James’ Park and halt their losing streak.
The first half followed a familiar pattern, with Spurs failing to test the goalkeeper for a fourth straight match before the break. But as seen in Paris last week, Thomas Frank’s team showed real fight in the second half, and Cristian Romero embodied that spirit by scoring twice to rescue a point.
Bruno Guimarães opened the scoring, while Anthony Gordon’s penalty was viewed as a harsh decision, with Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts calling it “madness” to see it awarded. Still, Romero’s contribution ensured Tottenham ended a run of four defeats to Newcastle and gave Frank a platform to build on in December.
Cristian Romero leads the Spurs fightback
Romero, one of the Premier League’s most aggressive and committed defenders, set the tone with a powerful header and a dramatic late bicycle kick. Returning from suspension, he reminded supporters of the impact he makes when he’s on the pitch and wearing the armband.
Defensively, the Argentine had mixed moments, winning only six of 13 duels and being beaten by Harvey Barnes for one major chance. However, he produced five recoveries, five clearances and two blocks, leading from the front. His goals will grab the headlines, but another Spurs player arguably delivered an even more impressive performance.
Frank has found Spurs’ new Mousa Dembele
In a challenging season, 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall has emerged as one of Tottenham’s brightest performers — composed on the ball and fierce in challenges. Despite his age, his maturity and natural technique have sparked comparisons to former Spurs star Mousa Dembele.
His energy and determination are obvious, and as his game develops, he could grow into the type of dominant midfielder who once earned Dembele widespread praise under Mauricio Pochettino.
Newcastle controlled long spells of the match, but Bergvall repeatedly helped disrupt their momentum. One Spurs podcast host described the teenager as “a class above the rest in the first half,” showing a level of calmness and aggression unmatched by most of his teammates aside from Romero.
Dembele was known for that same blend of elegance and physical strength, and his effortless dribbling once led Kevin De Bruyne to call him “the best in the world” in his prime. Bergvall isn’t at that level yet, but he is standing out in a Tottenham side that often struggles for attacking purpose and invites pressure with poor passing.
Still, the team’s resilience was reflected in both Romero and Bergvall, with the young Swede demonstrating his ability to win tackles and progress the ball effectively.
Lucas Bergvall vs Newcastle – Match Stats
Minutes played: 77′
Touches: 28
Accurate passes: 13/17 (76%)
Unsuccessful touches: 3
Dribbles: 2/2
Recoveries: 2
Tackles: 1/1
Clearances: 1
Duels won: 3/4
Data via Sofascore
Football.london rated him 7/10, highlighting his intensity in pressing Newcastle’s midfield and the energy he provided to support Spurs’ fightback.
Bergvall still has a long way to go before reaching Dembele’s level at his Tottenham peak, but this performance reflected the type of midfield profile Frank needs to shape a more exciting team identity.
