Ian Wright hopes James Maddison will go back on his word at the end of the season after the midfielder insisted Tottenham are showing the ‘Spursy’ label no longer applies to them.
Although Tottenham came into the match at the Emirates in excellent form, playing great football in their first five games of the season, many pundits had predicted the Lilywhites would collapse in their first major test during the season (Sportskeeda).
However, Spurs showed plenty of fighting spirit in the encounter, and despite two own goals and a controversial penalty, they showed excellent character by hitting back immediately. ie.
Maddison commented after the match that he and his team-mates proved with their performances against Sheffield United and Arsenal that they are not soft and that the term ‘Spursy’ no longer applies to them (talkSPORT – September 24 via The Athletic).
Is it too early to get rid of the Spursy tag? Wright believes it is too early to make extensive assessments, but he admits Tottenham has shown great character so far this season.
When Maddison’s comments were put to him, the Arsenal legend told Premier League Productions (25/09/23 at 2pm:
10 pm):
“It’s too early for him to say that. Hopefully he will have to digest these words at some point.
“But you have to look at how they started and how the players reacted to Ange Postecoglou and how they reacted to him.
“I think in the first half Arsenal could have won that game and we could have lost it in the second half. Tottenham were never out of the game.
“There was a chance when Jesus could have made it 2-0. It could have been interesting how Spurs would have reacted if he scored that chance. But, in the main, they carried on playing out from the back, even though they should have been punished and weren’t.
“Sometimes they went long, then went passing it out from the back – if they can carry on like that, then of course, they won’t be ‘Spursy’ anymore. I am sure that’s something they are trying to lose.”
Spurs Web Opinion
The ‘Spursy’ tag and the ‘bottling’ claims have always been more narrative than fact. I am sure that rival fans will make those claims again the next time Tottenham fail to beat a team they are expected to, which obviously happens to all sides.
