Tottenham Hotspur have turned a corner in recent weeks with six wins from their last eight Premier League matches - and a big reason for that is Harry Kane rediscovering his goalscoring form.
The England international has seven goals and four assists in his last eight fixtures and it is no coincidence that Spurs have gone on an impressive run in the process. Without those 11 goal contributions, it certainly could have been a different story for Antonio Conte ’s side in recent weeks, which is why Arsenal legend Paul Merson has called Kane the “world’s best striker”.
Merson told Sky Sports : “Spurs are the favourites for top four now. When Harry Kane's playing like he is, I don't think too many teams are going to beat them. I saw him go to the Etihad and rip Manchester City apart. I saw him rip West Ham apart, I saw him rip Newcastle apart.
“But you take Kane out of the team, top four ain't happening for Spurs. It's as simple as that. When he doesn't turn up at Burnley away, they get beaten. Tottenham are a one-man team and that's not being disrespectful.
“You could have a Ferrari, but without an engine in the car it ain't working. He's the all-round package, and that's why he's the best centre-forward in the world, and I've said it for a long, long time.”
Is Harry Kane the best striker in the world? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
After a slow start to the season in which he scored just five times in 21 top flight appearances, the 28-year-old looks to be back to his best. And Merson believes that with Kane on song, Spurs have every chance of finishing in the top four this season.
Despite their recent results, manager Conte insists it remains "very, very difficult" for his side to secure Champions League qualification. When asked about Spurs’ hopes of finishing in the top four last week, he said: “It’s right to underline that this target is very, very difficult. We are not the only team that wants to try to do this miracle. There’s also Arsenal that in this moment has an advantage, and then there is United.
“United is the [top] team that in this season are struggling a lot. Last season, it was Liverpool. Otherwise in England, I continue to repeat, you play for other targets. Because there are a top four, who at this moment are stronger clubs than the others, for many reasons.
“And this season it depends on United. At the moment we are among the teams that have to try to stay very close and exploit if someone fails this season. If you ask me about the past, about our possibility to reach a place in the Champions League, I could say to do it’d be very, very, very difficult.”
Conte’s side are now level on points with Arsenal but sit above them in the top four on goal difference, although the Gunners have a game in hand. It is expected to be a tense and nervy run-in for the pair, but if Kane can keep firing and producing consistently, Spurs will be in with a real chance.
