Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur have to play Ben Davies in a back three instead of Clement Lenglet, as he told talkSPORT.
The former striker thinks Ben Davies would bring the ball out better from the back than the summer signing, as he compared the Welshman to Kyle Walker.
When in England colours, Manchester City right-back and former Spurs man Walker has, on occasions, played on the right side of a back three for Gareth Southgate.
Given his natural attacking nature, it has allowed him to be that extra man in midfield and cause problems in the half-spaces on the right channel when England are on the ball.
Davies, when starting for Conte, is used on the left of the three, where Lenglet played during his side’s goalless draw at Frankfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
But given Lenglet’s lack of attacking mindset, he can’t move forward as good as Davies would and that’s why Agbonlahor thinks the 29-year-old needs to start ahead of the Barcelona loanee.
On Davies being a better option in a back three than Lenglet: “It’s an extra player (Davies) as a centre-half, so you need them to get forward, like Kyle Walker when he plays in that position for England,” said Agbonlahor. “He is overlapping as well.”
DAVIES IS AN UNSUNG HERO AT TOTTENHAM
One of the success stories under Conte, so far, has been the progression of left-back Davies.
Whilst the Wales international was a reliable player on the left flank, he wasn’t putting in the performances he is showcasing now.
Davies has become a bit of an unsung hero by showcasing aggression, great ability to read danger, last-ditch tackles and then marauding forward when he can.
And it’s fair to say, after signing for Spurs in 2014, he is now playing the best football of his career in north London.
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