The hat-trick of one-sided contests has underlined the chasm between the clubs, particularly when Spurs are missing players, as they were again in yesterday’s 2-0 loss, which ended Conte’s unbeaten start in the League.
Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga combined were more expensive than Conte’s entire patched-up XI, although the disparity in cost between the squads was emphasised by the head coach’s decision to leave out Spurs’ two record signings.
Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso were both dropped from the squad, along with Dele Alli, for the final game of the transfer window, with the club desperate to offload the trio.
Ndombele and Lo Celso cost a combined £110million, £55m each, but Spurs are resigned to pursuing loan or swap deals for the pair (right) before the end of month.
Should they leave, Ndombele and Lo Celso would both have a strong case to be the club’s worst-ever signing, having between them played 90 minutes in just 16 League games in two-and-a-half years — Lo Celso seven and Ndombele nine.
Conte started with a back four in the Premier League yesterday for the first time since Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in September 2016, when he switched to a three at half-time, and he said before the game he had chosen the formation to suit his available players.
It was telling the Italian would rather rip up his long-preferred system than rely on Ndombele, Lo Celso and Dele, and Spurs were second best. There are legitimate questions about the management of both Ndombele and Lo Celso at Spurs but their failures add to the pressure on the club to get it right in the transfer market this week.
This story is from the January 24, 2022 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 24, 2022 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Why are celebrity chefs falling prey to a scourge of squatters? Blame landlords
STAFFING woes. No-shows.Giles Coren.
ODEGAARD: WE'VE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER
SKIPPER’S CALL TO ARMS AS HE INSISTS ARSENAL CAN STILL DO SOMETHING SPECIAL THIS SEASON
Bellingham and Kane on a collision course after Madrid's shootout win
IT WAS a damaging night for Premier League clubs, but for two English superstars, there was further vindication over their decisions to move to big clubs abroad.
Knockout blow leaves Gunners in danger zone
Arsenal’s season at risk of imploding once again after Kimmich seals victory for Bayern
Bowen return raises hopes of a miracle
Winger set to play in comeback mission
Hipgnosis agrees £1.1bn sale to US rival Concord
THE extraordinary six-year saga of music rights business Hipgnosis Songs Fund as a publicly quoted company is set to end after it today agreed a £1.1 billion sale to US rival Concord.
Sadiq Khan's homeless pledge is impossible
TWO weeks ago, Sadiq Khan's re-election team tried to hide one of his big manifesto pledges in plain sight.
Are you ready to do business?
London's ultimate networking event is back
Why I'm cycling hundreds of miles for excluded kids
Schools are failing too many, says Lawrence Dallaglio. He tells Robbie Griffiths about his campaign and his ES rugby podcast
Khan: I'll deliver four more years of free meals
Mayor’s promise to all primary school pupils as he seeks historic third term