Legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a big fan of Tottenham Hotspur duo James Maddison and Micky van de Ven with Ange Postecoglou’s side top of the Premier League table.
As the London giants maintained their best-ever start to a league campaign away at Crystal Palace on Friday night – a Joel Ward own goal and Heung-Min Son’s finish ensuring Jordan Ayew’s late stunner was little more than a consolation – two of Postecoglou’s summer signings once again laid the foundations for another three-point haul.
Micky van de Ven, all pace and poise, was outstanding as ever alongside Cristian Romero. James Maddison, meanwhile, forced Tottenham’s opener with a fine driven cross before providing the ‘assist-to-the-assist’ as Son doubled the lead.
And Wenger, putting his Arsenal allegiances to one side, cannot speak highly enough of two players who set Spurs back just £10 million more than the club paid to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon back in 2019.
Van de Ven and Maddison shine for Tottenham
“I like to always say what I feel deeply. And I believe Tottenham will be one of the contenders for the league,” Wenger tells beIN Sports.
“They bought Maddison, who is a great player and who is that link from low midfield to high midfield, and added some technical creativity to the team.
“They bought Van de Ven, who I find exceptional. I find him absolutely exceptional.”
Fellow newbies Brennan Johnson and Guglielmo Vicario also caught the eye at Selhurst Park. Johnson assisted Son just moments after coming of the bench in the second-half while Vicario pulled off one of the saves of the season with a superb reflex stop at 0-0.
Spurs stay top of the table
“They had weaknesses (in defence) last year. (Former number one Hugo) Lloris didn’t have the best of seasons as well,” Wenger adds, Spurs’ Achilles heel becoming a position of real strength.
“And overall, the movement from Son into the middle, looks very good.”
“(Tottenham can challenge) for the Premier League. I would say Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and (Manchester) City of course will always come back. They look like the four who will fight at the moment for the Premier League.”
London neighbours Arsenal cut the gap to Tottenham back down to two points on Saturday, an Eddie Nketiah hat-trick putting Sheffield United to the sword.
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