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Alli is not well at Spurs: 4 things we learnt from Gameweek 18

Matt Garrett

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Tottenham’s Dele Alli has not scored in nine games now as all is not well in the Spurs camp.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli has not scored in nine games now as all is not well in the Spurs camp.
Alli is not well at Spurs

Following his brace against Real Madrid in the Champions League on November 1, Dele Alli has cut a frustrated figure, failing to score in the nine games since. He has provided five assists in that time, but the midfielder has got to change a lot if he wants to repeat his 22-goal feat from last season.

Alli could not get a foothold in the game against City and Alli should have been sent-off during Manchester City’s 4-1 win on Sunday for a particularly nasty foul on Kevin de Bruyne. Without goals and assists in his game, Alli becomes a passenger, something Spurs cannot afford in their current form.

Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he will hold talks with the 21-year-old about his attitude in the wak of their latest defeat. Spurs are three points behind Liverpool in fourth and cannot afford to fall further behind during Christmas.

Wilshere not wilting

Jack Wilshere completed 90 minutes for Arsenal for the first time in three years against West Ham and he repeated the feat against Newcastle on Saturday. Aaron Ramsey’s is not expected back until Janaury 3, giving WIlshere another three games to impress in the Arsenal midfield.

The Welshman’s impressive form before his injury, with four assists in as many games, means he will likely retake his place on his return. This leaves Granit Xhaka’s spot in the midfield as the best way into the Arsenal starting XI for WIlshere.

Wilshere won two tackles, seven duels and completed 53 passes against Newcastle, showing he can play in Xhaka’s position when Ramsey returns.

Stoke’s spark has gone
Mark Hughes and David Moyes had decidedly differing views on a penalty that set West Ham on their way to a 3-0 victory at Stoke City.
Mark Hughes and David Moyes had decidedly differing views on a penalty that set West Ham on their way to a 3-0 victory at Stoke City.

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Stoke have lost five of their last six games and considering the immediate turn around in fortunes at Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham, following the sacking of their struggling managers, Mark Hughes’ time is running thin.

Hughes’ latest loss to West Ham at the bet365 stadium brought shouts of ‘Hughes out’ from the home crowd. The jeers would have started earlier, but the fans were distracted directing their boos towards Marko Arnautovic, the former Potter, who scored against his old club and goaded the home fans with a Hammers symbol after his goal.

Stoke face West Brom next and a win for the Baggies will see them climb out of the bottom three while pushing Stoke down into it.

Hornets too heated

Watford’s captain Troy Deeney saw red for flying into the back of Colin Quaner on Saturday. The challenge arguably looked worse than it was, but that was Watford’s fourth red card this season and more worryingly the third game in-a-row where they finished with 10 men.

This spell has been anything but red-hot for Marco Silva’s men, who have lost four of their last five games. This poor winter form has stung Marco Silva’s chances of keeping pace with the top-six and Burnley, as they have gone from one point to nine points behind the top-seven.

Interestingly, Huddersfield and Spurs also finished with 10 men against Watford. Early baths all round.