The conclusion of the recent game left the Spurs squad with a sense of missed opportunity and disappointment over the final result. Everton secured a late goal through a set piece, prompting criticism from former Arsenal star Martin Keown, who pointed out that Guglielmo Vicario’s handling of such situations cost Tottenham valuable points.
Throughout the season, the Italian goalkeeper has faced scrutiny for his approach to dealing with set pieces, and opponents are capitalizing on this perceived weakness. Martin Keown highlighted Vicario’s struggles, particularly referencing the recent cup clash where Manchester City successfully targeted the goalkeeper, resulting in a goal by Nathan Ake.
Keown expressed on MOTD: “The goalkeeper for Spurs, he’s costing them goals lately from set pieces, never looked comfortable from any of those set pieces and at the end there perhaps should have done a little bit better.” Analyst Jason Mohammad reinforced this by referencing previous analysis indicating that Manchester City deliberately focused on Vicario during the cup game, identifying his vulnerability in defending set plays.
Despite Vicario’s overall positive contributions and crucial saves in the Everton game, the concern over his susceptibility to set pieces raises questions about its potential impact on Tottenham’s Premier League campaign. While acknowledging the goalkeeper’s quality, there is a consensus that addressing this weakness is crucial, especially considering the intensity of the competition in the league.
As Tottenham aims for Champions League qualification at the season’s end, dropping points from winning positions becomes a significant concern. Vicario, undoubtedly aware of his shortcomings, will be motivated to rectify his performance in the upcoming matches. At 27 years old, he has demonstrated his prowess since joining the Premier League, and the hope is that he can effectively eliminate this set piece vulnerability to evolve into a top-class goalkeeper.
The coming months will be crucial in observing Vicario’s development and whether he can successfully eliminate this aspect from his game. Tottenham’s aspirations for a strong finish in the league hinge on minimizing such vulnerabilities, and Vicario’s response to the criticism will likely play a pivotal role in the team’s pursuit of success.
