Micky van de Ven is rising to prominence at Tottenham under Thomas Frank’s guidance
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven grabbed the headlines for all the right reasons last week after delivering a standout performance against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. The Lilywhites secured a convincing 4-0 victory over the Danish giants, despite being reduced to ten men early in the second half. It was the perfect response from the North London side following their disappointing display against Chelsea.
However, it was Van de Ven who became the main talking point of the night after scoring a sensational solo goal. The Dutchman carried the ball the entire length of the pitch, breezing past several Copenhagen defenders before calmly slotting it into the back of the net. It was a moment that Spurs fans will remember for a long time, as the 24-year-old showcased what he is capable of at the attacking end of the pitch.
With that goal, the in-form centre-back is now Tottenham’s top scorer in all competitions this season. Van de Ven has added a new dimension to his game by regularly contributing in the final third. It is no surprise that the Dutchman is one of the first names on the team sheet at N17, forming a strong defensive partnership with Cristian Romero.
Tottenham star Micky van de Ven ranks among the best defenders in the Premier League right now
Tottenham have relied heavily on set-pieces this season, giving their defenders opportunities to make a consistent impact in attack. That explains why Micky van de Ven currently leads the scoring charts for the club, with six goals across all competitions. He has already delivered in key matches against Everton, West Ham, and Copenhagen, proving his ability to influence games at both ends of the pitch.
John Wenham believes the 24-year-old is now among the standout defenders in England, alongside Arsenal’s William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham said,
“This is a guy who’s six foot four, athletic. He should be getting six, seven goals a season. He should be looking at Gabriel [Magalhaes] and [William] Saliba and thinking, I want to be up there with those guys.”
The Lilywhite Rose owner added,
“But now he’s scoring all sorts of goals as well, which is the beauty of it. The goal against Copenhagen was a real magical moment in the stadium and sort of really continues building his profile as one of the best defenders in English football.”
Wenham believes Van de Ven should continue using his height effectively and take inspiration from the Arsenal centre-backs on how to capitalise on set-pieces. He also suggested that the Dutchman is finally proving what he can do at both ends of the pitch, and that his stunning Champions League goal could be the moment that elevates him into the conversation as one of the top defenders in England this season.
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Alongside his crucial goals, the commanding centre-back has been equally impressive defensively. His contributions have helped Tottenham keep eight clean sheets in all competitions so far. Van de Ven’s positional sense and recovery pace make him one of the toughest defenders to face in the Premier League. His last-ditch challenge on Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko last weekend was further proof of his defensive excellence, as he denied a certain goal with remarkable recovery speed.