Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League • England

Antonio Conte sends message to moaning Mikel Arteta over Arsenal fixture concerns

Antonio Conte and Oliver Skipp on the Tottenham touchline

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has hit out at Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta for complaining about his side’s fixture list.

Arteta criticised the Premier League for scheduling the Gunners to play against Liverpool on Wednesday night and then Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime.

But Conte said the Spaniard had no right to complain given the Gunners called off the north London derby in January, despite having only one confirmed case of Covid-19.

Conte said: “Arteta should remember the game postponed. Tottenham-Arsenal.

“In general, I think my answer is enough. If someone wants to think about fair or unfair. We postponed the game, Tottenham-Arsenal. I don’t forget this. And it’s not right to speak about fair or unfair.”

Spurs, who play West Ham on Sunday, have no fresh injuries and have some good news on Oliver Skipp, who has been out since January.

“About Skippy, I hope to have him after the international break,” he said. “His pain is getting better and better.

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“About Ryan (Sessegnon), we’re waiting for weeks to have another scan and then if everything is OK he’ll restart training sessions with us.”

Romero becoming key Tottenham man

Conte was also asked about the form of impressive centre-back Cristian Romero and how importance he is becoming to Tottenham.

He added: “Cristian is a player who has to be focused in every moment of a game. If he’s good, he’s focussed from the start, form the first to last second of the game. And he’s a really important player for us.

“He has a bit to improve in this situation, to be focussed on every moment of the game. Sometimes he gets a yellow card he can avoid. He has to improve in his aspect, to be focused from the start to the end.

“Sometimes you can’t explain this in a good manner. You have to shout! But he’s a good guy and he understands that what I do is always best for the team and himself.

“He has quality to be a great defender so it’s important to find the right way to improve the player.”

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