Xavi Simons still has a lot to do to prove his worth at Tottenham under Thomas Frank this season
All eyes will be on the coveted No.10 position when Tottenham face Premier League leaders and local rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby today. The Lilywhites currently have Xavi Simons occupying that role following James Maddison’s ACL injury during the pre-season break. So far, the Dutchman has not shown many encouraging signs since arriving from RB Leipzig in the summer.
Spurs were initially keen on signing Eberechi Eze to replace Maddison immediately after the injury was confirmed. The England international had even agreed personal terms with the club before Arsenal made a late move for his signature. In the end, the 28-year-old chose the Gunners due to his longstanding childhood connection with the club.
That setback forced Tottenham to turn their attention to Simons, who arrived for a significantly lower fee than the one Crystal Palace demanded for Eze. Spurs fought off competition from Chelsea to secure the 22-year-old, completing the deal late in the window after the Blues failed to reach an agreement. But Simons has yet to justify the sizeable investment made to bring him to N17.
Time to shine for Tottenham’s Xavi Simons in the North London Derby?
Xavi Simons has struggled to make an impact since joining Tottenham. It is not entirely his fault, as the Dutchman has found it difficult to influence games while playing behind an out-of-form Richarlison and operating ahead of a double pivot of Rodrigo Bentancur and João Palhinha. With limited support in midfield, he has found it hard to get into dangerous positions consistently.
However, Tim Sherwood has now urged the 22-year-old to seize the moment against Arsenal and establish himself as a cult hero at N17. Speaking on Sky Sports (via X), Sherwood said,
“Play him where he wants to play. Play him as a number ten. He’s got to deliver when he gets on the ball and he’s got to show a lot more than he has shown. There’s a lot of onus on him. But yeah, it’s difficult to adjust to a different country and to the Premier League, it does take time. But time becomes easier when you’re got better players around you.”
The ex-manager added,
“The fans like him. That’s for a reason because they’re starved of any creativity within the rest of the team. So this game on Sunday is all about making heroes. And there’s a chance for him to be an instant hero. If you score against Arsenal and get a positive result, then automatically you get elevated into that hero status.”
Sherwood wants to see Xavi Simons operate in the #10 position for Spurs against Arsenal, admitting that it is tough for the Dutchman to find his feet in the Premier League and adjust to the demands of the competition. However, the ex-manager claims that Simons still retains the fans’ support and has the chance of securing a ‘hero status’ if he manages to score in the derby.
Facing Arsenal, and coming up against the very player Spurs originally targeted in Eze, should give Simons extra motivation to perform on one of the biggest occasions of the season. The Dutchman has plenty to prove, and there would be no better moment to announce himself than by scoring in the North London Derby and helping Spurs claim all three points.
Simons has all the tools to be a difference-maker for Tottenham against the Gunners. The 22-year-old will look to find pockets of space between the lines, making it difficult for Mikel Arteta’s side to track him effectively. His creativity and eye for the killer pass will be crucial as Spurs look to close the gap on their rivals and strengthen their push for European qualification by securing a statement win over Arsenal.
