Tottenham’s win over Brentford at the weekend didn’t just give the club three points it also gave supporters something they’ve been quietly discussing for weeks.
After the match, Micky van de Ven said out loud what many Spurs fans have been whispering for some time. He praised the forwards for their pressing, but he made sure to single out Xavi Simons, calling him a player who is clearly on his way to becoming a key part of this team.
It was a simple comment, but it reflected what many people believe: Tottenham look like a much stronger, more creative side whenever Xavi Simons is on the pitch.
It might have sounded like one Dutchman backing another, but the truth is that anyone who has watched Spurs recently would understand why van de Ven spoke so openly.
Simons has brought flair, energy, and imagination to an attack that sometimes lacked spark earlier in the season. With him, the team feels more dangerous and unpredictable. Without him, there is a noticeable drop in creativity.
Many fans have asked why Simons hasn’t been starting every week, and the answer may lie in Thomas Frank’s coaching roots at Brentford. During his time there, the attacking threat came mostly from wide players like Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.
Brentford rarely relied on a central playmaker who operated behind the forwards. That system didn’t naturally include someone with Simons’ profile, and old habits can follow a manager into a new job. Frank initially leaned toward a more familiar setup at Tottenham, choosing solidity over creativity.
But recent performances have made it clear that Simons is too good, too influential, and too lively to leave on the bench. His impact against Brentford was immediate.
He set up Richarlison’s first goal with a well-timed assist and then scored one of his own, marking his first Premier League strike. It was the kind of performance that announces a player’s arrival.
A few days later, against Slavia Prague in the Champions League, Simons continued to show why he must play. Not only did he win a penalty, but he stepped up and converted it with confidence.
Throughout the match he drove at defenders with pace, took risks on the ball, and kept the opposition nervous. His shirt looked battered by full-time after repeated heavy challenges, but he never stopped asking for the ball. That hunger is something Tottenham have been missing.
Earlier in the season, Frank preferred a midfield pairing of João Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur. Both players are strong, physical, ball-winning midfielders, but pairing them together left the side with limited creativity in deeper areas. It became clear that the combination, while defensively tough, made the team too predictable.
The adjustment came when Frank introduced young Archie Gray alongside one of Palhinha or Bentancur. Gray’s calm distribution and ability to glide with the ball allowed Spurs to build more smoothly.
With that change, space opened up higher up the pitch for Simons to operate more freely. This three-man midfield now feels more balanced, with a mix of control, aggression, and invention.
As Tottenham approach a challenging run of fixtures Liverpool, Brentford again, Sunderland, Bournemouth, plus tricky tests against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest their need for creativity is only going to grow. The margins in these matches will be tight, and moments of individual quality could decide everything.
If Spurs want to pick up crucial points and show that Thomas Frank can guide this club beyond mid-table finishes, leaving out a player as influential as Simons would make little sense.
His movement between the lines, quick turns, and ability to unlock defenses bring a dimension Spurs simply don’t have without him. While the team effort matters, every side needs someone who can break games open.
Van de Ven’s public praise felt honest, timely, and maybe a little strategic. It was a defender acknowledging what the attack desperately needed a creative spark who can shift the rhythm of a match.
And as Simons keeps delivering, it seems obvious that Tottenham’s best version of themselves includes him pulling the strings behind their forwards.
For Spurs to push upward in the standings, they need consistency, bravery, and imagination. Xavi Simons provides all three. And the more he plays, the more Tottenham look like a side capable of something bigger than just steady progress. They look like a team ready to take control of their season.
