Graham Roberts has urged Nuno Espirito Santo on Twitter to play Dele Alli directly behind Harry Kane, as the midfielder can help to solve Tottenham Hotspur’s dire lack of creativity.
Arsenal dealt Nuno his fourth defeat in 10 games as Spurs manager across all competitions in Sunday’s north London derby. His Tottenham side have also now scored just 14 goals, with four in six Premier League games. Only scoring more than one in three fixtures in all.
Tottenham improved on their torrid start after the break on Sunday, but left it too late to truly challenge Arsenal. Spurs were second to most loose balls and wasted their chances to get forward before Heung-Min Son netted after 79-minutes. Lucas Moura then came close to teeing up a nervy finish, only for Aaron Ramsdale to tip the Brazilian’s shot onto the bar.
Roberts lauds Alli as Tottenham saviour
Tottenham ended the north London derby with just four shots on target from 10 attempts, per WhoScored. Kane – from five shots – and Moura accounted for one each, while Son hit the target with two from two attempts.
Roberts believes Nuno can solve Spurs’ creativity problems by moving Alli into an advanced role behind Kane. The £100k-a-week maestro has featured as part of a midfield three this season, but struggled to make any impact on Sunday before exiting the action at half-time.
Former Tottenham defender Roberts is not the only one to suggest Nuno moves Alli back into an attacking position. Spurs icon Ledley King shared a similar sentiment on Sky Sports following the north London derby. A view Roberts wholeheartedly agrees with.
“Totally agreed with Ledley King and Gary Neville that Dele needs to be playing behind the front man, not left midfield or [on the] other side,” Roberts wrote. “He is our best creating asset in the team and prior to the last two season, scored over 40 goals for the club. We need more creativity and more goals ASAP.”
Is Alli the answer?
Alli worked incredibly hard from a midfield three as Tottenham beat Manchester City on the opening day of the season. He won plenty of tackles against the defending title-holders and showed he can influence the action. Even if the role is not one he is naturally suited to.
But against Arsenal on Sunday, he left the field at half-time without leaving any imprint on the Emirates Stadium affair. Oliver Skipp came on his place and helped Spurs to take some control and avoid a similarly passive second period.
If Nuno is to get the most out of Alli during his Tottenham tenure, he may need to listen to Robert’s advice. The 25-year-old has scored 42 of his 66 Tottenham goals and recorded 43 of 61 assists from an attacking position. Compared to eight and eight in 47 in a deeper role.
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