The north London derby on 12 May looms ever larger for Tottenham. Just when it seemed fourth place and a return to the Champions League was within their grasp, they revert to unreliable type. Antonio Conte’s team have handed back momentum to Arsenal by collecting just one point from a possible six, having not mustered a single shot on target across 180 minutes against Brighton and now Brentford.
Way out in west London, Spurs were low on energy and cohesion, Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski isolated from a midfield swamped by Brentford’s greater numbers and zest in that department. Though Conte later said it would be “disrespectful” to talk about the transfer market and another club’s player, it was impossible not to consider Christian Eriksen, who excelled, as the Tottenham playmaker supplying his former teammates a quality of chance they struggled to find all evening.
“I’m still a Spurs fan, so I hope they get in the Champions League,” Eriksen said. But Arsenal’s chaotic wins over Chelsea and Manchester United had ratcheted up the pressure and Spurs failed to respond. Thomas Frank’s Brentford had won their last two London derbies amid a run of five wins from six and might have won this, Ivan Toney heading against the post in injury time.
A surprisingly upbeat Conte said afterwards: “We have to continue to improve because I think it is not enough if we want to stay in this race. For sure in November you cannot imagine to receive this question. Now we are in the race and we have to stay. We know it is very difficult.”
Where pressure threatens to envelop Spurs, Brentford are in the sweetest of spots. These are the days of their fans’ lives. Relegation is a forgotten worry, 40 points now reached. “I heard about that figure when we came in,” said Frank. “It has never been a specific target but we want more.” And Eriksen adds magic and romance.
“They made it difficult throughout, but we made it difficult for ourselves,” said the Spurs defender, Eric Dier. “We didn’t create enough chances.”
Brentford started with typical vigour but even after Tottenham began to take a greater share of possession, their attacking stars were forever hounded by packs of striped pursuers. The home team forced a series of corners – six by the 22nd minute – to repeated discomfort. When the sixth dropped to the back post, Toney slashed a volley wide, having been left free to do so.
Eriksen, given a standing ovation when taking his first corner in front of the away fans, was licensed to roam and probe, Toney’s intelligent movement giving him plenty to work with. His story continues to delight as the anniversary of his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 approaches. “I don’t care if he’s playing against us I’m just happy he’s healthy,” said Dier. “I’m really happy for him and his family.”
After the break, Brentford still looked likelier, Spurs panicky, with Hugo Lloris at one point charging out from goal to tackle Toney in midfield. His defenders were conceding a series of set pieces, playing to the west Londoners’ strengths. Kane had to head Pontus Jansson’s header off the line before Eriksen’s rebound effort was smuggled away by Lloris.
Spurs had greater need and they pushed harder in the late stages, Brentford perhaps drained by their efforts. Conte prowled the touchline distractedly, chucking on Lucas Moura to try to find a winner.
It did not come, and had it done so, would have been wholly undeserved though Kane did whistle an overhead past a post. In being outrun and outfought twice in two matches, Spurs have allowed matters to slip from their own hands.
