Arnaut Danjuma has made it clear that it has been "disappointing" not to start games for Tottenham but his goal against Bournemouth gives him something to build on. Only featuring four times under Antonio Conte before the Italian head coach parted with Spurs at the end of last month, the Netherlands international has made an impact from the bench in the past two matches for Cristian Stellini.
Having had a role to play in Harry Kane's winner against Brighton & Hove Albion one week ago, Danjuma came on for the final 32 minutes against Bournemouth and netted an 88th minute equaliser in a bright cameo. Unfortunately the goal didn't prove to be the last of the afternoon as the Cherries secured all three points deep into stoppage time courtesy of Dango Ouattara's well-taken finish.
Yet to start a game for Tottenham since his January switch from Villarreal, Danjuma has put himself in a good position to come into the starting XI when they travel to Newcastle United next Sunday after catching the eye against his former club. Speaking to SPURSPLAY after the game, the attacker gave an honest verdict on his goal and his start to life in north London.
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"It's something for me to build on personally. Obviously I've been waiting to get a chance," he said. "As disappointing as the result is for me today, for me it was also disappointing not to start or get the minutes that you're hoping for but for me as a player it's the same situation as we're in as a team after the game today. In football, in the hard times it's even more important to stick together, find the character to get the motivation to work twice as hard.
"For me as a player that's all I try to do and when I came on obviously I'm very happy with the goal for the club. I've been waiting to score for the club for a while now in the Premier League as well. With the result, it happens every now and again in football, we just need to make sure we go back to the drawing board and prepare ourselves for the next game."
Tottenham's 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth saw them blow a huge chance to move level on points with Champions League rivals Newcastle United. Despite the setback, Danjuma believes "there's nothing to worry about" providing that the team get their "conviction" and "confidence" back ahead of a pivotal week of games.
"The primary feeling that we have is disappointment," admitted the January singing. "I think towards the end of the game we did well. We tried to win the game and if you're Spurs you should always try to win the game. So inevitably you're going to leave some space in behind for Bournemouth on the counter, but I think I'd be more disappointed if we didn't go for the win.
"I think towards the end of the game we showed character, we got the equaliser. Unfortunately it wasn't to be today but we can make sure that we do nothing less than go back to the drawing board, dust down and make sure that we give our all in training again and prepare for the next game."
He added: "It was [a punch to the gut] to be honest with you. It would have been a dream to win the game again as we did away, but this is football. It's not always meant to be and in the hard times it's even more important to stick together and it's even more important to get the support.
"We're obviously devastated with the result of the game but nevertheless I'm standing here very confident in my teammates, the fans and the staff. We've got seven games left and it's all to play for, so as long as we focus on those games, we get our conviction back, our confidence back, there's nothing to worry about if you ask me."
Asked about next Sunday's top-four showdown against Newcastle United, Danjuma outlined the importance of regaining confidence and a full week on the training pitch at Hotspur Way.
"I don't think we should start hoping after we win the game [that Tottenham might get top four], I think we should start hoping now. We should make sure that we've got our confidence. Newcastle dropped some points, we've dropped some points today," he said.
"Obviously we've had a big chance today, it wasn't meant to be. So all we've got to do, we've got a full training week ahead, we need to make sure we switch each other on and we find our togetherness and make sure we bring the three points back home from up north."
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