Arsenal legend savages Tottenham trophy chances after defiant Ange Postecoglou vow

Arsenal legend savages Tottenham trophy chances after defiant Ange Postecoglou vow

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has totally dismissed Tottenham’s chances of lifting a trophy this season - insisting he has a better chance of winning Strictly Come Dancing.

Spurs were left to rue yet another north London derby defeat at the hands of their fiercest rivals on Sunday afternoon, with Gabriel’s emphatic second-half header from a corner settling a feisty encounter in N17.

It was a particularly galling loss for Tottenham given that title-chasing Arsenal were missing several key players for the Premier League showdown, including captain Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and new signings Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori.

Spurs have now lost three consecutive home league games against the Gunners for the first time since 1988, while the defeat also further highlighted their ongoing issues with defending set-pieces under current boss Ange Postecoglou - who has guided his team to only one victory from their first four league games of the new campaign, having also lost to Newcastle and drawn with newly-promoted Leicester either side of a thumping victory over struggling Everton.

Trophy vow: Ange Postecoglou believes he will win silverware in his second season at Tottenham (Getty Images)
Trophy vow: Ange Postecoglou believes he will win silverware in his second season at Tottenham (Getty Images)

The Australian was prickly and defiant after that latest loss to Arsenal, saying when asked about his pre-season comments regarding usually winning a trophy in his second season at a club: “I'll correct myself - I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing's changed.

“I've said it now. I don't say things unless I believe them.”

Such a statement would appear to add extra significance to Tottenham’s next game on Wednesday night, when they travel to face Championship side Coventry in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Spurs’ current trophy drought stands at a long 16 years since Jonathan Woodgate’s extra-time goal saw Chelsea beaten 2-1 in the 2007/08 League Cup final at Wembley under Juande Ramos, their only major silverware claimed so far this century.

And while Postecoglou is adamant that he can break that streak this season, Merson evidently does not give Tottenham a chance of pushing for any trophies as he compared it to his rather unlikely bid for success on this year’s edition of BBC celebrity dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.

“I like Ange but I've got more chance of winning Strictly,” he said on Sky Sports.

Sky Sports host David Jones quipped back: “I’ve seen some of your dance moves, that’s not great news for Spurs.”

Merson then said: “Exactly. That’s what chance they’ve got.”