Arsenal legend’s insider intel on immediate Spurs change that saw Ange Postecoglou remedy Antonio Conte error

Arsenal legend Alan Smith has heaped praise on Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou for succeeding in fostering an atmosphere of respect at the Gunners' North London rivals where Antonio Conte didn't.

Conte left his post at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March following a seething outburst targeted at 'selfish players' and the club management system. That toxic air around the club has since disappeared with the incoming former Rangers boss ushering in a new style of play and a much calmer presence at the helm of operations.

Providing a training ground example as insight into the change, Smith told Lord Ping: "The Tottenham legends are delighted with how everything is going at their club at the moment. The feel-good factor is back at Tottenham, players are smiling on the training ground, and everyone knows where they are from one day to the next.

"Antonio Conte famously didn’t tell his players their schedule for the week, which can impact players lives away from the pitch in terms of planning things with their own families.

"Things are much more settled now. Everyone connected to the club feels optimistic. It is a bit of a cliché, but the people around the club do feel like they’ve got their old Tottenham back."

The former Arsenal talisman, who scored 102 goals in 302 appearances for the club after joining from Leicester City, went on to predict that a top-four finish might still be too ambitious for Spurs.

Smith admitted that while the club should aim for Europe, his 'gut feeling' was that a place in the Champions League would be too ambitious. He said: "I think Tottenham will be looking to finish the season higher than seventh. They’ll be looking at the European spots at the very least.

"As for what competition they’ll qualify for, that is a different matter and I think it’s difficult to say whether or not this team could qualify for the Champions League at the moment. It’s very early days.

"Teams will not enjoy going to the Tottenham Stadium and, as Ange Postecoglou said himself, you have to be brave to play the way that they do. They were still passing out from the back when they were under the cosh at Arsenal, they take chances with their football, but they are a team that will test you going the other way and will get players going forward."