Relief, happiness as Bale is Tottenham's match-winner again

Gareth Bale soared into air, connected with ball and powered it into net.

It's taken more than seven years but Bale was Tottenham's match-winner again. And it had only required three minutes on field for substitute to clinch a 2-1 victory over Brighton on Sunday.

“A bit of relief and a lot of happiness,” Bale said after being set up by Sergio Reguilon, who also switched from Real Madrid in September. “It's an incredible feeling, personally. Obviously you wish fans were here to be able to celebrate.”

Apart from empty stadium, due to ongoing pandemic restrictions, this was type of moment Bale imagined producing on his return to Tottenham after seven years.

t like effective second debut two weeks ago when Bale came on — also with about 20 minutes remaining — only to be part of a side that collapsed 3-0 to draw 3-3 with West Ham.

A lead protected this time, Jose Mourinho's side climbed to second in Premier League on day his former club Manchester United lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal.

“It was massively important for us to get confidence at home,” Bale said. “ team is coming on. We are learning from previous mistakes in or games and keep fighting all way.”

Bale, a four-time Champions League winner with Madrid whose relationship with club and its fans deteriorated, is hoping to prove critics wrong.

“He deserves that (goal),” Mourinho said. "When I have five minutes I am going ... to look at Madrid’s websites to see what y say.”

Bale ensured night didn't end in refereeing frustration for Tottenham. While a VAR decision had allowed Harry Kane to score a 13th-minute penalty after being fouled by Adam Lallana, Brighton's equalizer from Tariq Lamptey was allowed to stand in 56th despite a lengthy video referee.

Even referee Graham Scott went over to pitchside monitor to assess Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg being fouled by Solly March in buildup but still allowed goal to stand.

“He should explain, but I kw that it is t going to happen,” Mourinho said. "So let’s move on and speak about a very difficult match that we won.”

A match that saw Tottenham win at home in league for first time this season after losing to Everton and n drawing with Newcastle and West Ham after conceding in stopp time in both games.

OLD TRAFFORD WOES

While Arsenal celebrated its first league win at Old Trafford in 14 years — thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's penalty — Manchester United is reeling from its worst start to a season in 48 years.

Only seven points have been collected from its first six games of league season, with wins at home for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 15th-place side

“First half we never turned up,” Solskjaer after his 100th match in charge of United. “ intensity, tempo wasn’t re, shape."

Arsenal, though, is w only a point from top four after recovering from losses to Manchester City and Leicester.

SOUTHAMPTON SOARING

It is Southampton in fourth place after an impressive turnaround in season. After opening with two losses — including a 5-2 collapse to Tottenham — Ralph Hasenhüttl's side has won four of its last five games.

Southampton weared a late fightback to beat Aston Villa 4-3 after conceding twice in stopp time.

A 4-0 lead had been built up by Jannik Vestergaard's header, captain James Ward-Prowse's double and a curling strike from Danny Ings.

EVERTON SLUMP

It's t only Villa enduring a slump in form after a strong start. Everton's 2-1 defeat at Newcastle was its second consecutive loss after Callum Wilson scored twice.