'Looks like a new player': Ian Wright says Tottenham have 'unearthed' a player who is like Kai Havertz
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Tottenham produced a statement victory by outclassing an out-of-sorts Manchester United side at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Even with his Arsenal glasses on, Ian Wright was impressed by what he saw from Ange Postecoglou and his players because this was some response from the team.
It wasn’t so long ago that the Spurs players and the manager were being questioned, but that’s what happens when you lose a north London derby.
Yet, fast forward to the present and Tottenham have won four games in all competitions, with the goals being spread out.
At the weekend, Brennan Johnson was scoring again, whilst Dejan Kulusevski netted his first goal of the Premier League campaign and now Dominic Solanke is starting to motor.
Everyone knows about Postecoglou’s style of play and how ultra-attacking he is, no matter the opposition or type of game he is playing.
In recent months, you sense that Postecoglou hasn’t taken his foot off the accelerator and is really going for it, which is displayed by the type of XI he puts out.
Against Manchester United, you could argue, aside from the back four, and remember the fullbacks bomb forward and play as number tens, the only bonafide defensive brain is Rodrigo Bentancur.
Kulusevski usually plays on the right, but he has now been deployed in the middle, alongside James Maddison and it is working like a treat.
Wright thinks the Sweden international ‘looks like a whole new offensive player’ in that number eight role following his Old Trafford showing, as he told Premier League Productions (30/09/24 at 1:15 pm).
Added to that, the legendary striker compared Kulusevski to Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, in terms of the roles they are capable of playing.
Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski compared to Arsenal’s Kai Havertz
“Especially Kulusevski dropping off into that eight, it looks like a whole new offensive player in that area of the field,” said Wright.
“To have a player with that type of capability, everyone thinks he is a winger coming in off the right-hand side. But to be able to drop back. It’s Kai Havertz type of energy. He can come in down the right, of course, Kai can play down the centre as well.
“But for him (Kulusevski), with his technical ability, pace and his passing ability. It was perfect for him. They have really unearthed something with him playing in the eight there.”
Tottenham scoring goals
What has gone under the radar has been the fact that Tottenham have kept back-to-back clean sheets in the Europa League and the Premier League.
You could argue one way they have solved that issue is by attacking to defend. Scoring that early goal, which the previously under fire Johnson has done in the space of a few days.
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If Spurs are looking toothless in the final third and wasting chances, then they aren’t going to go far because it’s their bread and butter.
But perhaps they needed to find that spark and now they have got it fans will see the best of their team as they look to climb up the Premier League table.
