If you think about where Spurs were when Conte took over, they were miles off it.
The signings he’s made have been good, but defensively they still need to strengthen. Lloris’ form as well, over the last few years, has been up-and-down, even acknowledging he’s a World Cup winner.
Son’s been inconsistent as well this year and his partnership with Kane last season was huge for Spurs.
So it’s obvious they need to make more investment in the squad like the manager has said recently.
Some players are also performing below the standards they’ve set but Conte is right to say they need to bring in players too.
Arsenal Belief
It doesn’t help when your biggest rivals have come from nowhere to really challenge for the title.
I always backed Arteta there and he has got some grief at times but you look at the form – and the age profile – of the players at Arsenal now, the likes of Saka, Martinelli, Odegaard, as well as Jesus and Gabriel and how they are playing.
Arsenal fans have started believing they can do it – and so have I!
Maybe they are the real deal this season and have the mentality to push on now.
I spoke to Aaron Ramsdale at the start of the season, and he said as soon as Jesus and Zinchencko came in they raised the bar. They’re both Premier League winners. Arteta too has done it too as a coach. They’ve gone the distance before, they know what it takes.
You would think City, in a one-off game, would be the better side, but Arsenal have something to hold onto now with their lead over the rest of the league.
And Arteta’s showing that he believes now too with his interviews and on the touchline. And I like seeing managers show that fire. As a player you want to see they care like that.
Liverpool not kicking on
I thought Liverpool would have a few players rested and ready to take on the rest of the season after the World Cup, but the result against Brentford shows that it might be more difficult.
It’s such a hard thing to put your finger on what’s going wrong.
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Fabinho struggled the other night and that means there’s less protection for the defence when he’s not on form. Virgil Van Dijk was taken off with a knock at half-time as well.
Credit does have to go to Brentford too. people might think they’re a small club and then the story is Liverpool performed badly, but they’re a tough team to play against.
Cody Gakpo looks a good signing for Liverpool and is the kind of move that can lift training and the dressing room in general, but I can’t see his arrival turning the season around.
Let’s be honest, Liverpool aren’t competing for the title now, they’re competing for top-4.
They can get that with Tottenham’s form fluctuating, but that’s where they are now.
Toffees’ sticky situation
Everton got that result against City and really looked well-structured and organised, but the performance at home to Brighton was dreadful.
Calvert-Lewin is back and you thought his goals might dig them out but he looked half-fit the other night.
And I look at the team and they should not be getting relegated. They have enough to stay in the Premier League.
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But the confidence is ebbing away, and when the crowd are not happy it’s a difficult place to play.
For Everton fans, it’s a very worrying time.
It felt like the fans kept them up last year with the atmosphere around some of those final games but they’re losing faith now.
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