Arsenal legend Perry Groves apologised to Gunners fans after confessing his love for Tottenham’s James Maddison.
The playmaker has hit the ground running at Spurs after signing for £40million from Leicester this summer.
In three Premier League appearances, the England international has scored once and assisted twice and been the best advert for Ange Postecoglou’s attacking tactics.
As he grabbed his first goal for his new club at the weekend against Bournemouth, Maddison put on a man-of-the-match display to down the Cherries.
The 26-year-old was popping up around the pitch at the Vitality Stadium and dictating the play.
Speaking to Sam Matterface about the match, Groves could not talk more highly about Tottenham’s new signings.
So much so, that the former striker admittedly betrayed his Arsenal past by admitting his love for the player.
Talking initially about Tottenham’s new style of play, Groves said: “It is on the front foot, it is entertaining and a lot more fluidity.
“You mentioned James Maddison, we know he is a 10.
“I think Postecoglou has said to him ‘you have so much footballing intelligence, you have the protection of [Yves] Bissouma and [Pape Matar] Sarr, I want you to go find the pockets where you think you can be more influential on the ball’.
“And that is exactly what he did against Bournemouth. He was dropping deep and being the playmaker but then he was getting himself in the 18-yard box.
“I am drawn on him a little bit because I shouldn’t be liking him as a player, playing for them. But I do.
“I like his character, I like his impishness, I like the way he plays, he interviews really well… I have got to stop it now…
“That is my confession, I am so sorry.”
But Groves is not the only talkSPORT pundit who has been swept up by Maddison’s skills so far, with Stuart Pearce indicating he might be the signing of the summer.
He said while commentating on Tottenham’s match against Bournemouth for talkSPORT: “How much did he cost, £40m? I think he’s an absolute steal at that, for this team in what they want.
“Just seeing him manipulating the ball, getting on the ball, freeing himself up and as soon as he gets it, he’s looking to play that ball in behind that’s going to hurt the opposition.
“Whether he plays it or not is irrelevant, he looks for it straight away and that’s a great trait.”
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