Dominic Solanke had the chance to open his Tottenham account by scoring against Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday.
Instead, Tottenham’s club-record transfer is waiting for his first goal since his summer move from Bournemouth after a forgettable game against Arsenal.
It doesn’t help matters for Solanke that he was injured on debut, then missed a few weeks, before being thrown into a big game.
Added to that, Tottenham have started the season poorly and their 1-0 loss to Arsenal only intensifies the pressure.
It was a narrow defeat for Ange Postecoglou, but a defeat, nonetheless, and another big blow for the manager in a big game.
This isn’t Solanke’s fault, but he will already be feeling the pressure and intense heat because the same old problems are rearing their ugly head for the team.
Spurs’ play in the final third is very poor and then they can’t defend corners. It was rinse and repeat from Arsenal and it must infuriate the fans.
Solanke didn’t have many chances against Arsenal, not down to his inability, but those around him not feeding him properly.
But, in the first half, Arsenal lost the ball on the edge of their box and the 27-year-old had a great chance to take a touch, open up his body and have a shot at goal.
Instead, he took too many touches and was swarmed by the Arsenal players off the ball, with Ian Wright critical of the player.
The Arsenal legend made it clear that ‘I don’t want to throw him under the bus’, but he needed to take that chance.
Wright highlighted how the pressure will only intensify now and that missed chance didn’t help his team’s cause during the game, as he told Premier League Productions (15/09/24 at 4:15 pm).
Dominic Solanke against Arsenal
“I am talking about Tottenham and the chances they created,” said Wright. “I think, for Dominic Solanke, that chance (first half after Arsenal mistake), I don’t want to throw him under the bus, but for that money, you have got to take those chances.
“That’s what Tottenham need, so it can get them going in the game and get confidence to the rest of the team. You have to take opportunities like that.
“Otherwise, with that crowd and the way that pressure comes in, everybody starts feeling it and that’s when they looked a little bit tight, stiff and rigid with what they were doing.”
Dominic Solanke looking for his first Tottenham goal
It needs to come as quickly as possible just to ease the pressure on the player because his price tag doesn’t help matters.
In truth, Solanke needs help from his teammates because they aren’t creating enough clear-cut chances for him.
READ MORE: Theo Walcott wowed by £15m Tottenham star despite defeat to Arsenal
Their play in the final third, from the captain Son Heung-min to Brennan Johnson, was beyond poor and it just makes matters worse for their new striker.
Added to that, Tottenham fans are used to Harry Kane, so that’s another cloud that will be over Solanke’s head.
The post ‘I don’t want to throw him under the bus’: Ian Wright delivers brutal Solanke verdict after Tottenham defeat appeared first on HITC.
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