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“Oh, now you want to talk,” Hugo Lloris muttered under his breath as he turned down interview requests after England’s heartbreaking World Cup loss to France.
His response was remarkably concise, almost bitter.
It has since transpired that Lloris was offended by claims made before the quarter-final that he was a weak link for France.
Hugo Lloris was to blame for Arsenal’s first goal by converting the ball into his own goal
I would have enjoyed that moment; Who doesn’t like to have the last laugh?
Fast forward five weeks and he is facing similar accusations at Tottenham.
Life comes to you quickly; unfortunately for Lloris, the joke was on him here on Sunday and Arsenal laughed at his expense.
Lloris’s situation was not helped by the fact that his opposite, Aaron Ramsdale, was boosting his reputation as one of the best up-and-coming goalkeepers in European football with another bulletproof display.
Spurs goalkeeper Lloris flicked a Bukayo Saka cross into his own net after 14 minutes.
On the rare occasion when Tottenham managed to break Arsenal, they faced Ramsdale in one of those moods where he wouldn’t let a mum with a double pram through.
There has long been no realistic challenger to Jordan Pickford’s role as England’s No. 1, but don’t be surprised if Ramsdale edge out the Everton goalkeeper for England at Euro 2024.
Ironically, Pickford is one of the names Tottenham are considering to eventually replace Lloris, a transfer that would bring Gareth Southgate’s first-choice fight into more focus.
But that’s all for the future. For Tottenham, Lloris’s form is a problem in the here and now.
The goalkeeper was lucky Arsenal didn’t take an early lead after his carelessness on the ball led him to redeem his own mistake to deny Eddie Nketiah an insurance goal.
Saka’s cross was deflected from Sessegnon, but the French keeper had to do much better.
His next mistake, in the 14th minute, gave Arsenal the lead. Granted, Bukayo Saka’s effort was hit badly and he deflected Ryan Sessegnon, but Lloris somehow managed to get himself into an almighty mess: he stepped back to deflect a cross shot into his own net.
The Tottenham Hotspur stadium was deafening for a second. Even Arsenal supporters took it twice before jumping into a frenzy.
This was a mistake of epic proportions; in an encounter of gigantic consequences.
Lloris shook her head as she got to her feet, but there was no one else to blame.
It’s a problem that has become increasingly prevalent at Tottenham in recent months.
Is Lloris the weakest link in this Tottenham? Probably not, but that’s nothing to write home about.
This is a Spurs side in need of a drastic overhaul; They have greater deficiencies than Lloris.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard punched in a second from outside the box in the 36th minute
But his catalog of bugs is growing. Mistakes against Aston Villa and Newcastle led to goals and defeats, while another error-plagued performance in the first North London Derby of the season saw Arsenal beat Emirates 3-1.
Sections of the fan base that attend the games have had enough. It seems that his manager, Antonio Conte, is also reaching the end of his rope.
The Spurs boss strove to back Lloris after his latest aberration, insisting the 36-year-old remains “one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
But behind-the-scenes machinations suggest something different.
There was hope that Lloris, who retired from international football last week, would be able to serve out his current contract, which expires at the end of next season, as the club’s No 1 before riding into the sunset in his 38th year.
But the process of bringing the curtain down on Lloris’s decade-long as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper is accelerating.
The Tottenham coaching staff is identifying a replacement for Lloris in order to finalize a transfer for next season.
Lloris had another day to forget when Tottenham were beaten 2-0 in the North London derby
Spurs want a goalkeeper who is comfortable in possession, who can make quick decisions with the ball at his feet; a trait that Lloris struggles with remarkably.
Pickford has all the attributes Tottenham are looking for; indeed, if Everton are relegated, that deal should be relatively easy to complete, although when Daniel Levy is involved, it’s hard to guess.
Brentford’s David Raya and Brighton’s Robert Sanchez, who excel in possession, are also options.
It is difficult to ridicule Lloris; He has saved Tottenham with his brilliance time and time again.
During a barren era, at least in terms of trophies, Lloris’s excellence has been a constant, but all good things come to an end. For Lloris, it seems that the moment is drawing near.