Tottenham Hotspur has been a team with highly progressive fullbacks that can make a big impact offensively while providing stability on the defensive side of the game.
Especially when we talk about the right-backs at White Hart Lane, the club has been blessed with some of the best players the Premier League has seen in the position in the modern era. When you think about RBs in the English top tier, you think about the likes of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier. The standards are high to deliver, and expectations meet the level of output that a fullback needs to produce at N17.
The North Londoners went from a highly athletic full-back to technical elegance when they brought in ‘unbelievable’ Emerson Royal from Barcelona in 2021. The club hoped that he could compound his intelligence and athleticism with his attacking prowess while stabilizing the defence.
That was exactly the case for a while; however, things started pivoting towards a negation by the time he called quits on his time at Spurs. However, there have been three variant years, each more distinct than the other, and we will take a look at each season in brief and how his role transposed within those campaigns.
Analyzing Emerson Royal’s time at N17
2021/22
Nuno Espirito Santo with Emerson Royal. Copyright: Vince Mignott PMI-4431-0007
The transfer highs did not last long, as Spurs tasted defeat when they visited Selhurst Park in an evening kick-off. Emerson got his first taste of Premier League football from the tunnel, and it proved to be an introduction that would stay with him for a while and more. Things started ameliorating as he grew into the season.
This proved to be a year where Spurs fans fell in love with the former Barcelona man. While he produced consistent output on the field, Emerson stabilized the defence and understood the toughness that it takes to feature in the English top tier.
He was an integral part of the season for the Spurs. Emerson
rel="noreferrer noopener">led the charts for defensive actions alongside Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg. He not only had the upper hand in tackles but also ensured that he was a presence in the defensive third as well as the midfield third. This paved the way for the attackers to be assured about the defence on the right flank.
Emerson has also been an explosive player, and he showed those attributes at times in his offensive involvements. While he was introduced in the side with former Real Madrid defender Sergio Reguilon, his shot-creating actions had to be compensated, as only one of the full backs held the license to express themselves in the final third while the other provided much-needed balance to the back line to restrict transition-like situations.
This is a season where he established his status on the Lilywhites roster and ensured that he earned his reputation and repaid Spurs’s faith in signing him.
2022/23
Emerson Royal has enjoyed a roller coaster of a time at Tottenham. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Emerson entered the season running on the high from the previous campaign; the Brazilian was bound to build on his premier year in the English top tier, albeit it proved to be a topsy-turvy domino of events that peaked into his possible demotion down the pecking order.
Tottenham started the season on a high, and Emerson became an integral part of the squad; however, as the season dragged on, his performances started depreciating. The wear and tear could be easily spotted with the struggles on the pitch; sometimes he could be easily dragged on by the opponents, and others would take advantage of his flank to build into the Spurs defence.
It is a problem to have such a space on the pitch, though that being said, he tried to reciprocate everything he did in his first season at White Hart Lane, yet nothing worked efficaciously. The consistency of high-value output became a problem, and the club recognized this mole
Tottenham Hotspur and Daniel Levy worked on possible early solutions when they pipped Real Madrid to land Pedro Porro on the final day of the winter transfer window. While Porro’s arrival was a wake-up call for the Brazilian, the club continued to give him the benefit of the doubt, and he remained a consistent starter for the team till the conclusion of the season.
However, a switch was flicked somewhere within that season and it would churn out to be effective in the next.
2023/24
Emerson Royal soon became a surplus at Tottenham.
When Ange Postecoglou took charge of Tottenham in the summer of 2023, the Australian gaffer arrived with an element of excitement among the supporters. He believed in donning an attacking, attractive brand of football that could not only get the fans on the edge of their seats but also get them to acknowledge something beautiful. Ange emphasized highly attacking-minded fullbacks who understand defensive responsibility, and this was the start of the end of Emerson Royal’s time at the club.
While Emerson is good at balancing the offensive and defensive outputs, he cannot be at the edge of the box at one-second thinking about scoring the next goal and defending a 1v1 the next when Spurs lose the ball. This is a trait that Ange highly appreciates, and this is where Pedro Porro gives more to the team than Emerson.
The South American did start the season as the first choice; however, Porro’s significant impact in the offence meant that he eventually lost his place in the eleven and has not seen any opportunity to get that back again.
Emerson was reduced to a bits-and-parts player who filled in when needed and nothing more.
He went from being an integral part of the squad to a surplus to needs at White Hart Lane.
The Brazilian enjoyed the highs of the Premier League and the lows of how fast the game changes.
(Source: DataMB)" class="wp-image-105989"/>How Emerson Royal’s game changed from 2022/23 to 2023/24 (Source: DataMB)
Despedida, Emerson Royal!
At the end of the three seasons, it’s safe to say that the Brazilian never truly won over the fan base at the N17. He had moments of glory that will forever be remembered by Spurs fans but that’s as far as his legacy would go. The initial promise that he showed at Real Betis never came to light.
Now, he has been linked with a move to AC Milan, and we hope he can regain his halo when he wears the prestigious Milan badge at San Siro next season.
The Serie A is a league that would suit the 25-year-old much better than the Premier League. He has the game cut out to succeed for the Roosoneri. Hopefully, this should help in his bid to make a return to the Brazilian national team.
As a die-hard Spurs fan, I have a deep passion for the best club in London. With 10 plus years of experience following the team closely, I offer insightful analysis and commentary on the latest news, tactics, and results.
Expertise: Tactical articles, and Transfer articles
