Arsenal legend turned pundit Paul Merson has backed Tottenham Hotspur to be champions next season IF they get a helping hand.
Golden boot winner Harry Kane
Spurs have continued their superb progress under Mauricio Pochettino this season, finishing runners-up to champions Chelsea.
The North Londoners surpassed the total achieved by Leicester City win they won the title last season when they rounded off the campaign with back-to-back 6-1 and 7-1 wins over the Foxes and Hull.
And while silverware may have eluded Spurs yet again, Paul Merson told Sky Sports that his former club’s bitter rivals can go one better and win the league next season, provided they get a helping hand from the fixture list.
Paul Merson
“They didn’t win the league but they were superb,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“If they weren’t moving away from White Hart Lane I think they would be champions next season. I don’t see that happening at Wembley though.
“The most important thing for me next season is when the fixtures come out in June. I think they need their first five home games to be against five of the lesser teams so they can build confidence and start winning games at Wembley.
Tottenham will play at Wembley next season
“If three of their first five home games are against top-six teams then it could be a dodgy start and they might not be a threat to win the league if that happens.”
It is testament to just how good Tottenham are under Pochettino that even their biggest rivals have been forced to concede they are the real deal.
Merson makes a salient point about the temporary move to Wembley but perhaps the difficult experience at the national stadium this season could stand them in good stead for next term.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Whether he is right with his point about the fixture list is another thing, though.
Playing against so-called weaker teams could see Spurs coming up against hungry clubs looking to impress on the ultimate stage.
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