Rafael van der Vaart slams ‘typical Tottenham’ and thinks Premier League title could be decided tonight

In the second part of an exclusive interview with Ladbrokes: Fanzone, former Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart spoke about Spurs’ season so far and discussed tonight’s Premier League top-of-the-table clash between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

Summing up Spurs’ season… typical Tottenham

Saturday’s performance and result against Leicester was typical Tottenham. They want to take the next step and join the big boys as a top-four club, they have the money and the manager to do so, but they’re struggling with the really small steps. They’re struggling to overcome them and treating them like really big steps. It’s not normal for a team to go and beat the best team in the league without conceding, and then lose the next game 4-1 to Leicester City. Top, top teams don’t do that.

'I know I can count on Sarr and Skipp 100%'

Antonio Conte reacts to tonight's #UCL defeat in Milan 🗣 pic.twitter.com/rd18VqtbcX

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 14, 2023

The same can be said for their season as a whole, actually – it’s typical Tottenham. When I look at this team right now and compare it with the side I was in for two years, we really tried to play football and entertain our supporters; we wanted to give them amazing games to come and watch. Now, they’re so focused on results, results, results, and they’re still not in the top four. They can play so much better than we’ve seen so far. They have great players, great quality all over the pitch, but they struggle to create against the smaller teams, and that’s a big issue. Against the teams near the top of the table, they can be patient and catch them out on the counter, but when they come up against the smaller teams, they have a lot of problems.

I think Tottenham will finish fifth this season, exactly where they are now. They’re already getting nervous, and those teams above them are just getting better, especially Manchester United. There’s quite a gap between Tottenham and sixth, but I think they can think themselves lucky that Liverpool and Chelsea have had really bad seasons. You never know, but I can only see them finishing in fifth.

Beat City tonight, and I think that’s the title decided

This is the game for Arsenal. You could even call it match-point, because if they win it, they’ll go six points clear with a game in hand. It’s a big, big chance for them to go one step closer to the title.

Arsenal are a team who always play to win, and that’s exactly what they should do against Manchester City. There’s no way they should overthink this game or play for a draw, or anything like that. Have confidence in yourselves and go for the win, because you need it. If they do that, I really think they’ll have a good chance of getting all three points.

But we’re talking about a City side with a crazy amount of individual quality in it. They can play really bad as a team, and have done in games this season, but they’ll still find a way to win easily because of individual players.

I’ll go with a City win at the Emirates, because I think that they have too much individual brilliance – they’ll always find a way to do something.

👊 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝘿𝘼𝙔

🆚 Manchester City
🕢 7.30pm (UK)
🏟️ Emirates Stadium
🏆 Premier League pic.twitter.com/lUpHbjjzFJ

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 15, 2023

You’d think that being the home side should give them an advantage here, but you could have said the same about them against Brentford on Saturday, and they only managed to draw that game. Sometimes, being the away side removes some of that pressure from the fans. But, make no mistake about it, they really need their supporters, for sure.

Like I said, this is match-point for Arsenal. What a chance they have to pull away from City. If – and it is a big if – they beat City, and win their game in hand, then I think that’s the title decided.

I hope – of course – Manchester City win the league, because my Tottenham blood is, and always will be, there. But, that aside, they should win the league, when you look at the quality they’ve got in every area of the pitch. If they don’t win the league, then it’s a really, really bad season for them.

Arsenal have been found out

I think Arsenal are showing signs of slipping up. First of all I have to say Mikel Arteta is doing a fantastic job, and he’s brought some much-needed stability back to that club. The players love him and this is a result of all of those things coming together. But most of those guys aren’t used to the pressure that comes with a title race. That’s what they’re feeling now. They’ve had a run of games now without winning, and Manchester City have narrowed the gap… I just don’t think they’re the same anymore. Maybe I’m totally wrong – this is just my feeling.

If Manchester City and United can keep up their form, then I think it’s going to be really close at the end of the season between all three teams.

Would I go as far as to say Arsenal have been found out a little? Maybe. I think the biggest shock at the beginning of the season was just how they played; they seemed to control every game, no matter who the opponent was, and that really surprised me. That means they’re ready to be champions, but also they’re now thinking in the back of their minds about the points they’ve dropped, and the chances they’ve missed to pull even further ahead in the title race.

The mental side of the game is really going to play a huge part in their season. I think it’ll be more of a challenge than an opponent they’ll come across this year. Football-wise, I think they’re right up there on the same level with City. But City are hunters, and when you’re hunting, you can sense any sign of an opportunity ahead of you – and that’s exactly what they’ve got right now, with Arsenal struggling.

Gabriel Jesus’ return to Arsenal is so important for their title chances. It goes without saying that to win titles, you need goals. Arsenal have struggled in front of goal in their last three games, whereas you just have to take a look at Manchester City, and how many goals Erling Haaland has already… if you’ve got one guy who is scoring 30 goals a season or more, it’s absolutely huge in a title race.

I don’t think Jesus is capable of hitting those numbers, but you’d expect him in a full season, when he’s fit, to score between 15 and 20 goals, and that would go a long, long way towards Arsenal’s title hopes.

I totally understand Arteta’s VAR frustration

The decision which went against Arsenal last weekend was massive. You go 1-0 up with a few minutes left and you see a goal like that given against you, only to learn it shouldn’t have actually been given… you can totally see why Mikel Arteta was upset. The point of VAR should be that football is clearer and more honest. I know people will say these things balance themselves out over the course of the season, but we’re talking about easy mistakes they are getting wrong, here. Offside lines are the easiest things to see and draw. Take your time, draw the lines and make the right decision. I can totally understand why Arteta is so annoyed.

"I will only be satisfied if they give me the two points back" 😤

Mikel Arteta says the VAR decision that cost Arsenal a crucial victory against Brentford was NOT a 'human error'❌pic.twitter.com/09rNbbPwEt

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 14, 2023

What really frustrates me with VAR is the lack of former players and their involvement with things. Of course you need referees and former referees to play key roles, but sometimes I can’t help but think decisions would be a lot more accurate, were they to have the input of an ex-player. You need somebody who has played the game to have a say on some of these decisions; I really think it would be a big help to everyone.

Conte won’t be at Spurs without top-four finish

I really hope Antonio Conte is in charge next season. He comes across as a really nice guy and you can see the players want to run through fire for him, and that’s a massive thing. When you see how someone like Harry Kane talks about him, I think it tells you all you need to know… he speaks so highly of him. All of the players will want him to stay, but at the end of the day, if you’re not in the top four, he’s not going to be there next year. That’s part of football.

I don’t think it’s wise for managers to return to clubs, so while I know Mauricio Pochettino’s name will often get linked with the club, were Conte to leave, I don’t think it would be a good idea, necessarily. Look at Jose Mourinho and Chelsea, for example; he was fantastic in his first spell but when he returned, things didn’t go so great. When Conte leaves, the board need to find time to identify the right replacement… but I don’t think it’s Pochettino.