Martin Keown told Football Focus on BBC One that he is hoping Gareth Bale can get back to his best at Tottenham despite being ‘an Arsenal man’.
It has been a troublesome return to life back at Spurs for Bale, who was left out of their FA Cup squad in midweek but returned during the defeat Manchester City yesterday.
Once again, Bale was only handed a cameo appearance from the bench, and in truth, he did look lively when he came on.
Nonetheless, Arsenal legend Keown thinks injuries could be holding back Bale and he wants to see him firing again even though he is from the other side of North London.
“If you are a player who cannot go 100%, he seems that he is playing within himself,” said Keown.
“Mourinho has tried to protect him. Clearly, he has an injury problem. They have had a scan on it and it doesn’t seem to be going away.
“I sincerely hope he can get fit again. This is an Arsenal man sitting here saying it, by the way, because I want to see Gareth Bale at his best.
“To be denied that it’s a real shame. If it is an injury problem then it’s a frustration.”
Bale’s road back to London could lead him back to Madrid if things continue in its current vain.
The one major problem for Bale is that whilst he hasn’t lived up to expectation, he hasn’t exactly played enough games to prove his worth.
But the Welshman is an expert at delivering in finals – history proves it – and that League Cup final against Manchester City may just be the game that he re-announces himself to the Tottenham supporters again.
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