Arsenal’s top four rivals analysed: Man Utd, Tottenham, West Ham, Wolves

Tottenham – Harry Kane, Heung-min Son & Antonio Conte

If the top four race were to be decided on coaches alone then Tottenham would be winning it. Antonio Conte is the best tactician of all five in the hunt and his ability to instill diligent structure into his teams has already seen Spurs improve.

Their squad is still horribly poor in certain areas, though. They signed Rodrigo Bentancur to add progression to the midfield but he’s no better than what they have, while all-but on of their wing-backs is anywhere near the standard the Italian desires to maximise his system.

There is a reason he sought to replace Emerson Royal already and ship Matt Doherty out.

But he has improved them as a collective already – the actually run now – and he has two cards up his sleeve that most managers in the country are jealous of: Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

Arsenal know this all too well, losing matches of late not to Spurs, but to those two. They are the ideal accompaniment for one another. Son’s direct style and intelligent football brain coincide with Kane’s connective role and exceptional finishing. Tottenham have, and will, win matches off the back of those two alone.

That is their unique selling point and all Conte needs to do is get a tune out of the rest of his squad with those two pieces lifting the level of the group and then top four is theirs. As horrible as it is to admit, Tottenham are the team to be most wary of. They too have no European football and the way the season has panned out they’ve had weeks upon weeks of time to absorb Conte’s methods.

They are the ones to beat, so to speak.