Antonio Conte ramps up Tottenham push for fourth spot and turns focus on derby showdown

Planet Sport writer
8 May 2022

Antonio Conte quickly turned his attention to Thursday's north London derby and said his Tottenham players will push Arsenal all the way in the race to secure fourth spot.

Son Heung-min took his Premier League tally to 20 goals in 32 starts at Anfield on Saturday as Spurs took a shock lead against title-chasers Liverpool.

A heavily-deflected Luis Diaz goal rescued a 1-1 draw for Jurgen Klopp's men and took them joint-top of the table but ahead of defending champions Manchester City on goal difference.

The result means Tottenham are a point and a place behind local rivals Arsenal - they host relegation-threatened Leeds United on Sunday - in the hunt to secure a place in the Champions League next season and Conte said his players had earned the right to stake a claim for fourth spot.

Son Heung-min has both scored (1️⃣2️⃣) and been involved in (1️⃣7️⃣) more #PL goals than any other player in 2022#LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/ublYtPUFK7
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 7, 2022

"There are three games to go for us, four for Arsenal, and in every game you have to gain points," he told reporters.

A team goal, expertly finished by @Sonny7 ✨ pic.twitter.com/CoLIdg4JMR
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 7, 2022

"We deserve to stay in this race because in November not many people believed Tottenham can fight until the end for Champions League qualification."

Tottenham have lost only won of their last eight matches and host Arsenal in the Premier League on Thursday in a huge derby showdown.

Thank you for your support this evening 👊

Onto Thursday 💪

🤳 @HPE pic.twitter.com/Uc7oaBfEoR
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 7, 2022

It is a marked turnaround in form given that at the end of January their form nosedived, losing four out of five in the top flight.

Conte's players will look to make it five wins out of the last six at the Tottenham Stadium for the visit of Mikel Arteta's men and the experienced Italian demanded they push Arsenal all the way.

He said: "On Thursday we have an important game, a north London derby against Arsenal, our rivals. We want to finish in the Champions League (places)."