Martin Keown believes Tottenham Hotspur can ‘still’ finish the Premier League season in the top four places. He adds that the January arrival of Pedro Porro was key for Antonio Conte.
Spurs have hit a rocky run of form in the north London club’s recent top-flight fixtures. The club have only won four of their last 11 games and two of their past six. And next up come defending champions Manchester City on Sunday, who beat Tottenham 4-2 on January 19.
Tottenham entered the break leading 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium after late first-half goals by Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal. But Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez flipped the script in the second period. It also followed their 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.
A win over Manchester City this Sunday would see Conte oversee back-to-back Tottenham wins for the first time since October. Defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal followed Spurs’ wins at AFC Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. They enter this weekend after winning at Fulham.
Tottenham also came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Brentford on Boxing Day following the World Cup. Conte’s squad had entered the pause in Premier League fixtures on the back of beating Leeds United 4-3. Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg prevented another defeat.
Keown feels Porro’s transfer can now help Tottenham finish in the top four
Conte has responded to Tottenham’s recent plight by signing Porro from Sporting Lisbon in January. The right-back arrived in north London on deadline day in an initial £5m loan deal. His transfer includes a £39m obligation to become permanent at the end of the campaign.
Keown believes the Spaniard’s arrival was ‘key’ for Conte and the way the Tottenham boss wants Spurs to play. The Arsenal hero also feels the deal could now help Tottenham finish the Premier League season in the top four. Spurs sit fifth in the standings after 21 fixtures.
“Conte spent so well in the summer that I felt this was the strongest Tottenham team we had seen in years,” Keown wrote in a column for the Daily Mail. “I still think they can make the top four and, perhaps, pick up a trophy.
“Conte used the January window to try to add more thrust to his wing-backs, who are key to his counter-attacking style. Djed Spence and Matt Doherty have departed, and Pedro Porro has arrived on loan from Sporting Lisbon.
“Porro will play on the right and Ivan Perisic on the left, with Emerson Royal and Ryan Sessegnon as back-ups. Conte will expect these wing-backs to give him the width and pace he wants.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
