Joao Palhinha has quickly emerged as one of Tottenham’s most influential players under Thomas Frank, and the numbers behind his performances will not shock many fans who have watched him closely in recent weeks.
Tottenham Hotspur secured a hard-fought point in their last Premier League outing, fighting back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw.
Richarlison pulled one back before the interval with a clinical finish, while a late Van Hecke own goal saw Spurs level the contest, although they could not quite find the decisive strike to complete the turnaround.
Several of Frank’s players caught the eye across the 90 minutes, with Mohammed Kudus and Destiny Udogie standing out in particular. Yet, the underlying statistics have now highlighted just how crucial another figure was for Tottenham.
Tottenham’s Joao Palhinha leads tackling stat in the Premier League
According to Squawka, no player has made more tackles in the Premier League this season than Tottenham midfielder Joao Palhinha, who has already recorded 19.
The 30-year-old only joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich in the summer, with the deal carrying an option to buy, but he has wasted no time in stamping his authority on Frank’s side.
In fact, 13 of those tackles have come in his last two matches, with six against West Ham and seven against Brighton, underlining just how dominant he has been in the centre of the pitch.
Spurs midfield finally addressed with Palhinha
Last season, the holding midfield role proved to be a problem for Tottenham, with Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur tasked with the job but often struggling to provide the consistency required.
Palhinha, however, brings a different edge, as his raw ball-winning ability gives Spurs balance, freeing Frank’s more attacking players to push forward while he anchors the midfield with assurance.
That was evident once again yesterday when Frank introduced Xavi Simons, leaving Palhinha to handle the defensive responsibilities almost single-handedly, allowing Tottenham to chase the game while still maintaining security in the middle of the park.