Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to safety after back-to-back wins under Roberto De Zerbi, and Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes two midfield stars could prove decisive in keeping Spurs in the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur will continue their fight for survival when they welcome Leeds United to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night.
At the moment, Spurs sit just one point above the relegation zone, but a victory over Daniel Farke’s side could move them four points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United.
The task for the Lilywhites remains simple: they must outperform West Ham across the final three matches of the season to secure Premier League survival.
The Hammers have already dropped points this weekend, falling to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at the London Stadium following a goal from Leandro Trossard.
Tottenham stars praised by Ian Wright in relegation battle
Tottenham must now focus on themselves, and if they can collect six points from their remaining matches, they will certainly secure survival.
Roberto De Zerbi has done an impressive job since arriving, guiding the Lilywhites to back-to-back wins, and he will hope to maintain that momentum as Spurs continue their battle to avoid relegation.
Of course, there is no denying that Tottenham’s standout display under the Italian came in their last league outing against Aston Villa, where Spurs managed a 2-1 win.
Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Ian Wright praised the influence of Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha after their recent performance against Emery’s, before insisting the pair could be the reason Tottenham stay up.
He said: “Gallagher and Palhinha were unbelievable. Watching them, unbelievable it was. There’s no way they’re going down with those two.”
Gallagher and Palhinha giving Spurs renewed belief
Wright’s verdict is not entirely surprising, especially after the pair’s performances against Aston Villa last time out for Tottenham.
Gallagher played a key role in the 2-1 victory, pressing from the front and helping Spurs apply pressure high up the pitch against Unai Emery’s side.
Palhinha was equally important, winning tackles, interceptions and duels in midfield for Tottenham. If the pair can deliver similar performances across the final games of the season, Spurs’ chances of survival will improve significantly.
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