Tottenham offensive and defensive improvement under Antonio Conte analysed; Spurs face a blockbuster clash with Chelsea live on Sky Sports this Sunday; watch Chelsea vs Tottenham live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4.15pm; kick-off 4.30pm
Thursday 20 January 2022 14:57, UK
In-form Tottenham produced an epic win over Leicester on Wednesday and now face a blockbuster clash with Chelsea on Sunday - but what has changed under new boss Antonio Conte?
Tottenham returned to Premier League action for the first time in 18 days on Wednesday night with their incredible late win at Leicester.
It is the second league game in succession Tottenham have won courtesy of an injury-time goal, following Davinson Sanchez' 96th-minute winner at Watford on New Year's Day.
As a result, Spurs have become the first side in the Premier League to win consecutive games courtesy of injury-time goals since Arsenal in March 2012.
Antonio Conte's impressive start as Tottenham head coach continues with the Italian becoming the first manager in the club's history to remain unbeaten in his first nine league games in charge.
Spurs had lost five of their previous seven league games before Conte's arrival, so what has brought about such a striking change in form?
The most obvious place to start is up front: Tottenham have scored in each of Conte's last eight Premier League games - having begun his tenure with a 0-0 draw at Everton.
Over his nine leagues games, Spurs have scored at least two goals in six of those. Prior to his arrival, Tottenham had scored more than once in just two of their first 10 games.
Additionally, Spurs have scored 17 league goals under Conte, averaging 1.9 goals per game - more than twice the ratio registered in the 10 games before his appointment this term.
Much of Tottenham's attacking play depends on the form of talisman Harry Kane and the 28-year-old now seems more of his usual self in front of goal.
Kane is Spurs' top scorer in all competitions under the Italian with six goals. Four of those have come in the Premier League and all in the last five games. Prior to Conte's appointment, Kane had scored just one goal in nine league appearances.
This upturn in goalscoring is unsurprising, given the England captain is now having more shots and touches in the opposition box, while his shooting and conversion rates have doubled since November.
Against Leicester on Wednesday night, Kane scored his 250th club career goal and had 10 shots - no player has had more in any Premier League game this season.
Furthermore, as the shot maps below show, many of Kane's shots under Conte have been struck closer to goal and from more central areas than previously this season.
As Tottenham's attacking threat has improved under the new manager, so has their work defensively.
Spurs have conceded just six league goals in nine games under Conte - only Wolves have conceded fewer over the same number of fixtures.
In fact, only the top three clubs and Arsenal have faced fewer shots per game since the Italian's first game in charge - and only the top two have faced fewer shots on target per game.
Much of that defensive improvement could be down to Tottenham covering more distance. Spurs have covered more ground in every Premier League game under Conte than they did in any other game this season and are averaging 15km more per game than before his arrival.
Tottenham have outrun their opponents in all nine of their league games since November and the 121.1km they covered against Norwich was the furthest by any team in the division this season.
Tottenham's improvement under Conte, both offensively and defensively, has led to an impressive tally of 21 points from his nine games in charge - only runaway leaders Manchester City have won more points over the same number of fixtures (24).
With three games in hand over fourth-placed West Ham - who are just one point ahead of Spurs in fifth spot - Conte will be hoping their recent form could lead to a successful charge to a top-four finish this season.
