Lloris has become a liability for Conte
THERE was the time Hugo Lloris let the ball squirm under his body and Gabriel Jesus scored (Arsenal 3 Tottenham 1). The time he spilled Douglas Luiz’s shot and Emiliano Buendia opened the scoring (Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 2). The time he inexplicably left his line, only to flap on the floor and leave Callum Wilson with an empty goal (Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2). And those are only examples from this season.
I could go back further. Like when he dawdled on the ball inside his own six-yard box and Southampton’s Danny Ings scored in September 2019. Like when he punched Leander Dendoncker’s effort straight to Wolves’ Raul Jimenez in February 2022. Like when he was beaten by two tame attempts from RB Leipzig’s Marcel Sabitzer as Spurs exited the Champions League in March 2020. There can be no disputing Lloris has been a brilliant goalkeeper and there is a real pressure that comes with being the person between the sticks. But there can also be no denying he has turned into a liability. The rap sheet is so long that you can go on YouTube and find a video called ‘Hugo Lloris worst mistakes’, and then you can watch ‘Part Two’. This history of howlers is why, when he bundled Bukayo Saka’s cross into his own goal yesterday, it was not surprising. It was completely in character.
While Aaron Ramsdale made sure Arsenal won — saving, clearing and commanding his way to a clean sheet — Lloris only contributed to Tottenham losing. Antonio Conte could do with being ruthless and giving Fraser Forster his chance. There are only so many mistakes you can take from your first choice, regardless of whether he has a 2018 World Cup winner’s medal.
I tipped France to win the 2022 World Cup but had one reservation, writing as part of my predictions: ‘I’m still not convinced by Hugo Lloris.’ Yesterday we saw why.