Harry Kane celebrates scoring their first goal with Dele Alli (Photo: Reuters)
Come on Premier League, what have you done with the real Tottenham?
Where are they hiding? This isn’t the usual, inconsistent band of perennial underachievers that always let you down.
This isn’t the flaky, mentally-weak outfit that could previously be relied upon to set the pace for the big boys to take it from here.
This title-challenging Spurs side are here to stay. If anything, they are getting even better, particularly with their best players now back to make them tick.
In their last two league games, Spurs have ended Chelsea’s 13-match winning streak and piled up a record-equalling sixth victory in a spin, thrashing West Brom.
With hat-trick hero, Harry Kane, up front and Toby Alderweireld at the back, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have a renewed cutting edge and a greater defensive solidity than any other team in the Premier League.
So while China stalk Chelsea, Arsenal are knee-deep in contract rows, and both Liverpool and Manchester City are undermined by defensive issues, the good ship, Spurs – having been through its own choppy waters – sails on.
No wonder experienced West Brom midfielder, Darren Fletcher sees them as Chelsea’s biggest threat this term.
He should know, having won four league titles under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. After Kane’s hattrick and a goal from Christian Eriksen had left the Baggies’ defence smashed, Fletcher was convinced that Spurs are on course to break their title duck.
“They have got strength and speed, they are tactically astute and they press well.” he said.
“They are a very complete team and hopefully they have learned from last season – that is their biggest thing.
“They will be disappointed with the finish to last season and there is no better way to learn from it than to experience it.
“They are in the top four on the back of the Chelsea win and should see themselves as title contenders.
“Even Chelsea would tell you the league isn’t over. Any of the top six could put in a run and go on to win the title.
The league will probably be defined by the games between themselves. The top-six games this season are going to be huge.”
Let’s not kid ourselves, West Brom under Tony Pulis are no slouches, having won six of their previous 10 and having given Chelsea a tough time at the Bridge last month, before finally losing 1-0.
Having also lost to the other teams in the top six, Fletcher is in a good position to judge the sides he felt were toughest to play against.
“Them and Man City,” he added. “They are the only two games in which we have been comfortably beaten. Spurs are a good side, no doubt about it. They will take a lot of stopping.”
Spurs keeper, Hugo Lloris, however, has warned his team-mates not to start getting cocky after their record-equalling six-match unbeaten Premier league run.
Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all had impressive winning runs before chinks were discovered in their armour.
Lloris believes Spurs could slip up in a similar fashion, if they start getting ahead of themselves. He said: “We can feel confidence in our side but, in football, things can turn very quickly if you don’t have the right behaviour, the right attitude.
“We need to keep our feet on the floor and keep working hard. One thing I like about Tottenham is that there is not a really big star. We are all working for the team.
“We all respect the team. The club is bigger than any player in this team, and it works well.”
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