Paul Merson has backed Tottenham to finish in the Premier League top four this season but insists they would not make it without the efforts of Harry Kane.
Spurs received a huge boost in their pursuit of Champions League football at the weekend, with their 5-1 win over Newcastle lifting them above rivals Arsenal into fourth place.
The Gunners, meanwhile, stumbled as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday night, which has kept both sides level on points, although Spurs are edging the advantage on superior goal difference.
And the weekend’s action has convinced Merson that Tottenham will do enough to pip his former side to fourth, singling out the strong form of Kane as the deciding factor.
However, the player-turned-pundit threw caution to the wind by stating Antonio Conte’s side would not secure that status without the heroics of the England captain.
He wrote in his column for Sky Sports: “Now all of a sudden, Arsenal don’t really have a game in hand – because Tottenham have got them at home anyway.
“It doesn’t matter what they do with their game in hand, because Tottenham will have to beat them and can overtake them.
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“You watch Tottenham completely and utterly dismantling Newcastle on Sunday. Newcastle aren’t the worst team in the world.
“I watched them at Chelsea a few weeks ago, and bar genius from Kai Havertz and Jorginho, the Blues didn’t really look like scoring that day – then Tottenham go and put five past them.
“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-around package, and that’s why he’s the best centre-forward in the world, and I’ve said it for a long, long time.”
Kane has been in electric form for Tottenham of late and has had a hand in 11 goals in his last eight Premier League matches (Transfermarkt).
The 28-year-old will be hoping to continue that into the run-in which includes Spurs’ delayed north London derby encounter against Arsenal on May 12.
Spurs Web Opinion
As a player of Kane’s calibre, you want to be able to fall back and rely on your world-class players to come up with the goods.
Granted Tottenham maybe have depended on him too much at times, but there are now others in the squad that can step up to the plate in tricky situations.
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