Arsenal top six rival analysis: Man United, Tottenham, West Ham, Leicester & more

5. Tottenham

It’s all about Antonio Conte.

Tottenham were spot on in their decision to sack Nuno Espirito Santo early into his tenure: the football was insipid, the players were clueless, the atmosphere toxic and the signs of improvement nonexistent.

However, he should never have been appointed in the first place and the entire recruitment process over in the wrong half of north London was an unmitigated disaster.

It was brilliant.

Appointing Conte is, sadly, a real coup on Spurs’ part. He is one of the world’s finest but, as they say, you can’t polish a turd. Tottenham are still Tottenham and if he is to be a success at the club it will hinge on him getting the likes of Tanguy Ndombele up to acceptable fitness levels and finding a way to squeeze the best out of Harry Kane.

Their players can’t possibly be playing much worse and Conte is a man with a plan on averting that slide. How long it takes him to work with what he’s got and get his players on board remains to be seen. But they can’t be much worse, put it that way.

With a kind run of fixtures to come to kick off his tenure they could build a head of steam and regain their self-belief.

They are still, however, Tottenham Hotspur.

Continued…