Glenn Hoddle backs Xavi Simons to succeed at Tottenham in new Arsene Wenger admission
Glenn Hoddle has backed Xavi Simons to succeed at Tottenham, after what has been a disappointing opening spell in North London.
Spurs signed Simons from RB Leipzig in the summer, after agreeing a deal worth around £52million.
The midfielder had been set to join Chelsea, but the Lilywhites stole in to hijack the move when negotiations with the Blues stalled.
But Simons has been slammed for his early performances at Spurs, with the midfielder failing to leave much of an impression in the Premier League so far.
But it has been suggested that Simons is not seeing enough of the ball for Spurs, with the Dutchman often left to feed on scraps in Thomas Frank‘s restrictive system.
Glenn Hoddle sympathises with Xavi Simons
Tottenham fans have now begun to express their frustration with Simons, and the midfielder’s performance against Aston Villa did not do anything to quell concerns.
The 22-year-old created just one chance in his 79 minutes on the pitch, and failed to win the majority of his duels.
Simons‘ poor form is only worsened by the strong form of Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze, who had looked set to move to Spurs before the Gunners hijacked the move.
| Xavi Simons | Premier League 2025-26 | Eberechi Eze |
| 5 | Appearances | 7 |
| 1 | Assists | 2 |
| 6 | Chances created | 4 |
| 4 | Shots | 9 |
| 1.36 | Successful dribbles per 90 | 1.76 |
| 0.15 | Expected assists per 90 | 0.17 |
But it should be considered that the England international was already established in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, whereas the younger Simons is still undergoing an adaptation since moving from the Bundesliga.
Tottenham legend and former creative midfielder Glenn Hoddle shared a similar sentiment when asked about the Netherlands international.
“Talking about Xavi – it’s interesting, because it is very early in this stage,” Hoddle told talkSPORT on Wednesday.
“When you’re a creative player, I remember when I first came out here to Monaco, and I was 27. The first two months were all new to me, on and off the pitch. I couldn’t get on the ball properly, and I wasn’t playing well.
“I think you need a little bit of time. If you’re a defender, or a wide player, but when you’re the number 10, the creator, who has to go there and everyone is looking at you and you’ve got to create and open doors.
“I think this lad has got ability, whether he can do it in the Premier League is the big question, but he does need a bit more time.
“In this day and age, it’s a bit more instant. I’m sure the way I played in the first two years, Arsene Wenger must have been thinking ‘Oh my God, what have I bought?”
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Simons can become key for Tottenham
The numbers do not lie when it comes to Simons. The midfielder has been poor since he arrived at Tottenham.
But they also do not lie when looking at his career. Last season, the 22-year-old was superb, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists across the season in Germany.
Given how long the Dutchman has been known in the football world, it can be easy to forget just how young he is.
But Spurs fans must exercise patience and accept that Simons is not even close to the finished product just yet.
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