Pedro Porro is sitting at the top of the Premier League in terms of one key attacking stat and Dominic Solanke will be excited to see it.
The role of Tottenham’s full-backs
In Ange Postecoglou’s system, both full-backs invert, often taking up extremely advanced positions when the side is in posession of the ball.
Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie play a key role in helping the Lilywhites progress the ball forward, with both often tending to occupy the half-spaces.
However, with Postecoglou making a slight tweak to his system this season by playing both James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski as number eights, the Spurs full-backs have tended to stay out-wide more often than they did last campaign.
Porro’s attacking output
That switch is now borne out by the stats, with Pedro Porro putting a lot more crosses into the box from the wide areas.
According to WhoScored, the Tottenham man has made eight successful crosses so far this season, which is the most of any player in the Premier League.
The Spaniard finished with four goals and seven assists last season and will be keen to match that tally, having already netted his first goal of the season.
The Dominic Solanke effect?
Part of the reason why Spurs are putting more crosses into the box might also have to do with the fact that they now have a centre-forward who is good in the air.
Solanke was a master at making darting runs to get on the end of balls into the box at Bournemouth last season.
Given the kind of service he will have from the likes of Porro, Son Heung-min and James Maddison, the Englishman will fancy his chances of matching his goal tally from 2023-24.