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Tottenham: Three pleasant surprises in the season so far

By Aaron Coe

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Adama Traore of Wolverhampton Wanderers in action with Oliver Skipp of Tottenham Hotpsur during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux on August 22, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Adama Traore of Wolverhampton Wanderers in action with Oliver Skipp of Tottenham Hotpsur during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux on August 22, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images) /
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Crystal Palace's Ivorian striker Wilfried Zaha (L) and Tottenham Hotspur's English defender Japhet Tanganga engage in a confrontation during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace’s Ivorian striker Wilfried Zaha (L) and Tottenham Hotspur’s English defender Japhet Tanganga engage in a confrontation during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in south London on September 11, 2021. ((Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

From weakness to strength at right-back

Prior to the season, we knew right-back was an issue for Tottenham Hotspur. However, it should now be clear that if there is one position Tottenham is now set for the next 5 years, it is right fullback.

To start the season Japhet Tanganga moved out wide and was just awesome. His physicality with attackers helped to slow the opposition and protect the center-halves. As a player who defends first, like Skipp, Tanganga is rarely out of position and helps keep the team balanced. The defender’s work against Raheem Sterling to open the season was particularly good.

If only Tanganga had stepped up at the position this year, Spurs would still be better off, however, there is a second right-back who has made the position a real strength for Tottenham Hotspur.

Emerson Royal seems to split some opinions a bit but as a 21-year-old who is playing in the Premier League for the first time, it is obvious Royal is the real deal.

More offensively-minded than Tanganga, Emerson should provide some real attacking force for the team moving forward. A nearly perfect foil for Tanganga, Emerson is aggressive, big, and physical but not quite the defender Japhet is, whereas Tanganga does not provide quite as much in attack as does the Brazilian.

While a backup or even a second striker was probably a bigger need for Tottenham heading into the transfer window, the opportunity to get Royal was too good to pass up, and as a result, Spurs seem set for years to come at a position that was a weakness just a few months ago.

Continued…

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