Spurs Blogsville

Opinion: Spurs right-back makes real claim for first-team spot

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Serge Aurier was looking like he was going to leave Tottenham in the summer – he found himself sidelined by Mauricio Pochettino and in the North London derby was ignored in favour of playing Davinson Sanchez out of position.

Aurier watched as Sanchez was beaten time and time again on the right while he sat on the bench and considered if his Spurs career was over.

There were rumours he would go back to France, but no move materialised, and the former PSG man was given a lifeline against Crystal Palace – as Pochettino handed him his first start since March.

The response from Aurier was to turn in a fantastic display as Tottenham smashed the Eagles 4-0.

Aurier was directly involved in two goals and looked more assured than Kyle Walker-Peters had in any of his games this season.

The Ivory Coast international was not afraid to get forward – so provided a constant outlet for Spurs’ midfielders and on two occasions, his crosses led to goals.

First, he was found on the right just inside the box; he took a touch before drilling a vicious ball across the box that poor Patrick Van Aanholt slid into his own net to make it 2-0 to Tottenham.

Later in the half Aurier was free on the right again and sent a looping ball to the back post which found Heung-min Son who volleyed home his second goal of the game.

Aurier was not only rampant going forward but also brilliant in defence – as he contained Wilfried Zaha for the whole match and ensured his side kept their first clean sheet of the season.

It really was an excellent all-round display from the 26-year-old, and he has undoubtedly made a real claim to make the right-back spot his.

Certainly, Pochettino was impressed, and Aurier may well have done enough to start Spurs’ first Champions League game against Olympiacos on Wednesday.

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