Tottenham star Brennan Johnson is looking to prove his worth at N17 under Thomas Frank
Brennan Johnson has already written his name into Tottenham Hotspur’s history books. The Welsh forward delivered the decisive blow in last season’s Europa League final against Manchester United, scoring the winning goal that ended the Lilywhites’ 17-year wait for a major trophy. It was a moment of pure elation for Spurs fans — one that will be remembered for generations.
Looking back, few could argue that Johnson wasn’t Tottenham’s standout performer last season. The 24-year-old endured a difficult start under Ange Postecoglou, facing heavy criticism from sections of the fanbase after a string of underwhelming displays. Yet, that very criticism became the catalyst for his transformation.
What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Johnson responded by scoring in eight consecutive games, completely silencing his doubters and proving his worth. By the end of the campaign, he had become Tottenham’s top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions, a remarkable turnaround for a player once under scrutiny. Naturally, fans hoped he would carry that same form into the new season under Thomas Frank. However, while there have been flashes of quality, the Welshman has struggled to replicate the same level of consistency so far this term.
Brennan Johnson needs to improve his game to revive his Tottenham career
Despite his sharp finishing and positional awareness, Johnson’s game still lacks variety. His tendency to play in straight lines and his limited ability to beat defenders one-on-one have made him somewhat predictable in attack. Moreover, his tendency to fade out of games has forced Thomas Frank to rotate his options more frequently, limiting the Welshman’s minutes in recent weeks.
Echoing the same view, Alasdair Gold has urged the prolific forward to add more attributes to his game this season. Writing for Football.London, Gold said,
“Kudus’ arrival has impacted Johnson the most even though he started off well with back-to-back goals in the opening two Premier League games and the 24-year-old bagged another against Doncaster Rovers.”
The journalist added,
“It says plenty about the Wales international that he’s had a disappointing season so far yet is Spurs’ joint top scorer – behind Mr Own Goal – after topping the goal charts last season. Needs to add more to his game, especially his one-vs-one play and grab any opportunities that come, wherever Frank uses him.”
Alasdair Gold’s assessment perfectly highlights Johnson’s current dilemma. The arrival of Mohammed Kudus and undoubtedly affected his role in the squad. The Ghanaian’s dynamic presence on the right flank has pushed Johnson into unfamiliar positions, disrupting his rhythm. Yet, despite these challenges, he remains the club’s joint top-scorer this season. His finishing remains one of his biggest assets, but to truly thrive under Frank, he must quickly improve his creativity and dribbling.
For now, the onus is on Brennan Johnson to stay patient, work hard, and learn from his teammates. At just 24, time is firmly on his side. If he continues to develop under Thomas Frank’s guidance and takes his chances when they come, there is every reason to believe he can reclaim his starting spot at N17.
