Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with an integral knit tongue

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper, comprising:
• a knitted component, comprising:
• a knit element, and
• a tongue formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element,
• wherein the knit element extends along a lateral side of the upper and along a medial side of the upper, wherein the tongue extends along a throat of the upper and comprises a pair of overlapping knitted layers that are joined to the lateral side of the upper and to the medial side of the upper,
• wherein a first plurality of lace apertures extend through the knitted component proximate to a lateral side of the throat and wherein a second plurality of lace apertures extend through the knitted component proximate to a medial side of the throat;
• a lace extending through the first plurality of lace apertures on the lateral side of the throat and through the second plurality of lace apertures on the medial side of the throat;
• and
• a sole structure secured to the upper.

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper, comprising:
• a knitted component, comprising:
• a tongue that extends along a throat of the upper, wherein the tongue is integrally knit with the knitted component at a forward end of the tongue, and wherein the knitted component extends from the forward end of the tongue along a lateral side of the upper and along a medial side of the upper;
• and
• a lace that extends through a first lace aperture on the lateral side of the throat, then extends across an exterior surface of the throat, and then extends through a second lace aperture on the medial side of the throat, and then extends back across the exterior surface of the throat, and then extends through a third lace aperture on the lateral side of the throat, wherein the first lace aperture, the second lace aperture, and the third lace aperture each extend entirely through a corresponding part of the knitted component;
• and
• a sole structure secured to the upper.