Darren Bent has now given his opinion on whether Arsenal could and should have signed Dominic Solanke over their North London rivals.
Pressure? What pressure?
We have seen time and again over the years at Spurs that strikers have struggled to cope with the pressure of a big price tag.
However, Solanke has exuded calmness right from the moment he first stepped out on the pitch in lilywhite, having the confidence of someone who believes he belongs at this level.
The centre-forward has been rewarded for his impressive start at Spurs with a recall to the England squad, winning his first cap in seven years against Greece on Friday.
Bent’s admission
While it is still early days for Solanke at Spurs, the deal already seems like an inspired move by the Lilywhites, with top-class number nines hard to come by in modern football.
One can argue that Arsenal lack a top centre-forward in their ranks at the moment and Bent admitted that the 27-year-old might have been the right man for the Gunners.
When asked if Solanke could have done well for Mikel Arteta’s men, the pundit told talkSPORT: “Yeah, I think he would have been a hit at Arsenal. For sure. Because he has the right temperament and looks like he wants to continue improving, I have never heard any stories about him being a bad egg. Yeah, I think he would have been a hit at Arsenal.”
Perfect fit for Spurs
One can understand why Solanke was the man that Ange Postecoglou wanted more than any other striker, with the Englishman being a perfect fit for the Australian’s system.
While the newcomer has already showcased his quality outside the box and his goal-poaching instincts, what sets him apart from most strikers is his tireless and intelligent pressing.