When Antonio Conte was announced as the new Tottenham Hotspur manager in December last year, most football fans felt that it would go one of two ways — a match made in heaven, or a complete disaster. Luckily for Spurs fans, Conte has taken to North London like a duck to water, and his team are flying high as a result.
Still unbeaten in this season’s Premier League after seven games played, Tottenham are finally starting to look like their old selves again, putting in assured and dominant performances against the teams they should be beating, while looking dangerous against their top-six rivals as well.
Once the international break comes to an end, Spurs will face a huge test in the shape of a trip to the Emirates Stadium to face arch-rivals Arsenal. Those placing an Arsenal v Tottenham bet are currently favouring the Gunners — after all, Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the Premier League table after winning six of their seven games so far — but Spurs will be out to make a mockery of those predictions.
Conte has brought a feel-good factor back to Tottenham, and there is now a feeling among supporters that the team need fear no opposition — certainly not their North London rivals at least. Last season, Tottenham gave a meek showing at the Emirates under Nuno Espirito Santo, losing 3-1 and leaving the ground with their tails between their legs.
The team have a much sharper edge nowadays, and it would be a surprise if Arsenal rolled over their opponents in a similar manner. Indeed, Tottenham’s 3-0 home win over the Gunners towards the tail-end of last season — a result which helped them leapfrog Arsenal into the top four and secure Champions League football — will give players and supporters alike confidence that this team has what it takes to secure another memorable victory.
Every player is performing better under Conte than they were previously. The likes of Eric Dier and Emerson Royal have raised their levels significantly since the Italian’s arrival, while additions from Serie A in the form of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrygo Bentancur have proved to be inspired pieces of business. While Conte may cut a manic figure on the touchline sometimes, it’s clear that his players respect him greatly, and it is a much more harmonious group of players taking to the field each week than in previous seasons.
Above all, Conte has instilled a culture where nothing but the best is good enough. There was a sense under José Mourinho and Nuno that standards had slipped from the days when Spurs were finishing high in the Premier League table and reaching the Champions League final during Mauricio Pochettino’s reign. Conte has brought the level right back up, and this is a Tottenham team that looks ready to re-establish themselves at the top table in English football.
This season will be a hugely competitive one as far as those top six places are concerned. While Manchester City are looking good value for the title once again, the rest of the top four positions are far less certain, and that’s why it’s crucial that Tottenham go to the Emirates and put in a strong performance. You’d expect nothing less from a team that is heading in all the right directions under Conte.