In the end, we needn’t have worried about the online vote. Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-Min took home the EA Sports Premier League Player of the Month for September, edging out Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, Everton striker Romelu Lukaku and Arsenal's Theo Walcott.
Congratulations Sonny, @premierleague Player of the Month for September! #COYS pic.twitter.com/OxnCBHAK7v
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 14, 2016
Sonny’s prize is also historic: he is the first player from Asia to ever win a Premier League Player of the Month award. His award comes from an absolutely blistering run of form that saw him score four goals and notch an assist in September. In quotes on the Premier League’s website, Son said he was delighted to take home the prize.
"This is my dream, to get the award. I want to get it a second time, a third time. When I take the award home my family will be crazy like you can't believe; they will be really happy."
"I can't believe I'm the first player from Asia [to win it]. I'm very thankful for the support. They support every day, every weekend, every game."
Alas, shed a tear for the old customary half-ball Premier League trophies, which apparently were a casualty of the EPL’s rebranding efforts this past summer. Sonny’s trophy looks a bit like a column lamp from Target with a lion logo slapped on it. Doesn’t look like he minds, though.
In other news, Jurgen Klopp took home the Premier League Manager of the Month award from September; Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino was nominated along with three others.