Scott Minto has claimed on talkSPORT that Antonio Conte has given Tottenham Hotspur a greater chance of finishing the Premier League season inside the top-four than Arsenal.
The former Chelsea defender feels the race to finish in the final Champions League spot is up for grabs. With several sides in with a realistic chance of ending the campaign there.
Minto also expects West Ham United to have a great chance of claiming their best ever result this season. The east Londoners’ current best remains fifth-place back in 1998/99.
West Ham currently occupy a Champions League spot after the opening 11 Premier League fixtures in third-place. Moving above Liverpool after a 3-2 win over the fourth-place Reds.
Arsenal are also fifth, two-points behind Liverpool, while Tottenham sit just ninth, a further four-points back, entering the international break. With the Gunners the in-form side over the last eight games, having claimed 20 points as the only unbeaten side since August.
Minto backs Tottenham for Premier League top-four over Arsenal
Yet Minto feels Tottenham stand the better chance of finishing the Premier League season fourth than Arsenal thanks to Conte.
“I think that fourth-place is up for grabs,” Minto said. “I must admit, I did think that when [Cristiano] Ronaldo signed for [Manchester] United, ‘they’re in the game here’.
“But there’s three teams going for the title, and I do include Liverpool in that – even though they’re fourth. So, it goes to show how well West Ham are doing.
“That fourth-place is up for grabs, big time. There’s a lot of teams [who could claim it]. I don’t really see Arsenal, even though they’re sitting fifth.
“Look at the team in ninth, Spurs, with Antonio Conte – I wouldn’t rule them out, as crazy as that sounds. But I think West Ham have a fantastic chance at their best ever Premier League finish and finishing in the top-four. And that would be amazing.”
Can Conte take Spurs back into the Champions League?
Like Minto, Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy and Managing Director Fabio Paratici will believe they have the man who will take them back to the Champions League in Conte.
The Italian took a point in his first Premier League game in charge against Everton. But the goalless stalemate left Spurs 17th in the form table over the eight game period Arsenal top.
West Ham have also taken nine more points (16) than Tottenham (7) since August, when Spurs topped the table. Only Aston Villa (6), Norwich City (5) and Newcastle United (4) – who also sacked their managers – took fewer than Tottenham.
So, Conte will have his work cut out to change the tone in north London for Tottenham to finish fourth. But Minto backs the prodigious title-winner, and Spurs will love it to pan out.
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