Richarlison marked his first start of the season with a second-half winner to help Tottenham edge past AZ Alkmaar by a 1-0 score and earn a third consecutive Europa League win.

The Brazil international chipped home from the penalty spot in the 53rd-minute, which ensured he avoided a post-match dressing down after he initially would not give the ball to stand-in captain James Maddison.

When Maddison did get the ball back, he quickly had a change of heart and let Richarlison take the spot-kick and score for the first time since May after a troublesome calf injury to help Spurs clinch a seventh win from eight games.

Ange Postecoglou made nine changes from the 4-1 win over West Ham with Mikey Moore was handed his first start at home.

Moore should have marked it with a goal in the fifth minute, but headed wide from close-range after an excellent inswinging cross by Timo Werner.

AZ lost Ruben van Bommel, the son of former Netherlands international Mark, to an injury after 12 minutes, but a fine run by Ernest Poku created an opportunity for ex-Spurs forward Troy Parrott, but his low effort was blocked.

Chances remained limited before the match burst into life when a wonderful outside of the boot pass by Lucas Bergvall sent Werner away only for the RB Leipzig loanee to side-foot weakly straight at Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.

The visitors responded when Sven Mijnans’ corner found Alexandre Penetra, but his powerful header was superbly clawed away by Fraser Forster in the 29th-minute.

Penetra was involved again two minutes later when he dived in on Maddison inside the area and despite the Spurs midfielder going down, a quick VAR check showed it had been a clean tackle.

Werner sent another effort wide moments later after Richarlison won the ball back before a slack pass by the German attacker forced Forster to rush out to deny Mijnans.

With the breakthrough yet to arrive, Postecoglou made another half-time substitution – like against West Ham – with Werner replaced by Brennan Johnson.

Moore was moved out to his favoured left wing position and responded with a dazzling run and pass into Johnson, but his effort was blocked before the 17-year-old then nearly picked out Richarlison.

Tottenham had gone up a gear and the opener did arrive in the 53rd-minute after Bergvall was brought down by Dekker inside the penalty area.

Richarlison chipped home the spot-kick for his first goal of the season but only after an awkward moment with Maddison beforehand.

Maddison required Rodrigo Bentancur to intervene and convince Richarlison to let go of the ball, but after Spurs vice-captain Maddison got the ball back, he had change of heart and let the Brazil international take the spot-kick.

Moore produced more magic soon after when he skipped past Seiya Maikuma and fizzed an effort wide.

AZ had threatened though moments earlier when Radu Dragusin appeared to be fouled but play continued and Bentancur had to slide in to thwart Poku.

Forster was called into action in the 74th-minute with a crucial low save to deny Mayckel Lahdo, but the visitors’ hopes of a late equaliser were dealt a blow when Maxim Dekker was sent off after he received two yellow cards in quick succession as Tottenham held on to stay perfect in the competition

Man Utd have held talks with former Barcelona boss Xavi as Erik ten Hag is increasingly close to being sacked at Old Trafford, according to reports.

The Red Devils have made a terrible start to the new Premier League season with Ten Hag’s side currently 12th after eight matches.

Man Utd have won just three of those eight games and that has piled pressure on the Dutchman to turn around their fortunes.

Ten Hag’s side did win their first match back after the international break in a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday, which slightly eased the heat on the Man Utd boss.

But now the Daily Mail claim that the Man Utd hierarchy have been holding talks with former Barcelona boss Xavi as they line up a replacement for Ten Hag.

The Daily Mail reports:

‘Mail Sport understands that intermediaries have made contact with the former Barcelona star twice in the last few months.

‘A four-man delegation led by chief executive Omar Berrada flew out to Barcelona last Thursday, although United sources say that a number of high-level meetings have taken place in the Catalan capital recently because co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been there to support Ineos Britannia sailing team in their battle with New Zealand for the America’s Cup.

‘But it has also fuelled speculation that Xavi could be a contender if Ten Hag is axed after two-and-half years in charge.

‘Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy would be an obvious short-term replacement – and Xavi has also made it clear that he doesn’t want to coach in Spain again.

‘United sources maintain that Ten Hag remains their manager and the club have no plans to make a change as he prepares to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday.

‘United declined to comment on Tuesday, saying they refuse to engage in speculation over the manager’s future ‘

And former Man Utd chief scout Mick Brown – who remains well-connected at Old Trafford – insists that Ten Hag is “always one defeat away” from being sacked.

Brown told Football Insider: “Just winning a few games won’t be enough and he’ll know that.

“You can win three games on the bounce, but one shock defeat and that pressure will be back.

“Every time you lose a game at Manchester United, you’re under the kosh. That’s always been the case. You’re always one defeat away.

“So it’s good to win games, and he needs to win games, that’s the only way he’ll be able to keep his job, but even that might not be enough.

“They’ve got a good run of games coming up, but that only increases the pressure.

“We’ve been in this position before where they get all three points from a game and look like they can push on, but then they lose again.

“All it takes is one loss for the crowd to turn and all of a sudden a decision has to be made.”

Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal looked tired in their slender 1-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates.

The Gunners bounced back from their surprise defeat against Bournemouth after Gabriel Martinelli’s first-half strike rebounded in off goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk to maintain their unbeaten record in Europe.

But Leandro Trossard missed a second-half penalty and David Raya had to produce a fine stoppage-time save to be sure of the three points. Arsenal’s evening was also soured when Riccardo Calafiori limped off with a knee injury in the second half.

“The first half we were very dominant and we created four big chances that we should have converted and put the game to bed,” said Arteta.

“The second half was very different and we looked tired, and lacked that sharpness, with and without the ball. We missed a penalty. And that emotion was difficult to overcome. We had to dig in. But overall it’s Champions League, get the win, clean sheet. Let’s move on.”

However, Arteta insisted he expects his side to be back on song when Arne Slot’s side visit on Sunday.

He added: “We played two nights ago, with players coming back from internationals, after flying from Brazil and many countries.

“I was expecting a bit of a drop-off. And the fact that we put so much in the first half and didn’t get the distance in terms of the scoreline, we paid a bit for that.

“Then we made life more difficult for us because we started to give the ball away in not the right areas and then it was more open. That didn”t help. But we have now four days. And believe me, come Sunday we’ll be flying. We’ll be in the right place.”

With captain Martin Odegaard sidelined, and William Saliba and Bukayo Saka both set to be out for the visit of Liverpool through suspension and injury respectively, Calafiori added to Arteta’s woes after he was withdrawn in the second half.

Calafiori appeared to twist his knee in a collision with Eguinaldo and although he attempted to carry on, he was withdrawn six minutes later.

Ben White, who only returned from injury in the defeat at Bournemouth following a near-month lay-off, was substituted at half-time. However, Arteta revealed that was a precaution with the defender already on a yellow card.