Tottenham's Ledley King v Chelsea's Arjen Robben: Greatest Premier League tackle?

Happy birthday, Ledley King!

The Tottenham legend celebrates his 42nd birthday today, so let’s cast our minds back to his unbelievable tackle on Arjen Robben from the 2006-07 season.

Spurs secured their first league win over Chelsea since 1990 thanks to goals from Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon, but a sensational challenge from King in the first half was also a pivotal moment in the match.

When Michael Ballack lofted the ball behind Tottenham’s defence, the lightning-quick Robben found himself in acres of space.

Robben had beat Spurs’ offside trap and found himself through one-on-one with goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Or so he thought…

Robben may have strayed slightly offside when the pass was played but the assistant referee didn’t raise his flag, so the goal would have been given. Remember: this was a long time before the days of VAR!

King and Dawson’s appeals for offside went ignored as Robben set himself to shoot.

But King somehow got back to produce a heroic last-ditch tackle on Chelsea’s speedy winger, who couldn’t believe such a golden opportunity to score had gone begging.

“What a tackle!” the commentator said. “They talk about great goals, that is a great challenge.”

The co-commentator added: “Fantastic work from Ledley King. The only man in a white shirt who never gave it up. King’s got six or seven yards to make up. He’s like a train powering back and stabs it away from Robben just as he’s about to pull the trigger.”

Watch King’s tackle on Robben here:

It’s Ledley King’s birthday today. You remember him.Central defender. 6ft 2in. Once made himself invisible to Arjen Robben…pic.twitter.com/pUra1VAcds

The best tackle in Premier League history? It’s certainly up there.

Sadly, King’s career was hindered by a