The Criticism of Tottenham's Style of Play Is Unfair & Annoying

Isn't it nice to have a little more intrigue surrounding the Premier League title race this season?

At this time last year, Liverpool had just beaten Bournemouth comfortably 3-0, establishing an 11 point lead at the top of the table.

Their fans wouldn't have told you it was done, such is the natural pessimism of most football supporters, but it was. There was no standout Manchester City team to challenge them, and the rest of the top six were all struggling for consistency.

This time around, it's different. Tottenham are currently sat at the top but only ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, while Chelsea and Leicester are two and three points away respectively. Both Manchester clubs, who make up the rest of the six, have games in hand.

Obviously each team has its own distinct style and personality, but no side seems to divide opinion quite like Tottenham at the moment. In all honesty, that depends on your outlook on football, and that's fine.

But in this age of golden football and outrageous scoring streaks, defending well and holding onto leads is looked down upon. Even more so if that team is managed by the dinosaur that is Jose Mourinho.

Plenty of the discourse after Tottenham's 2-0 north London derby win against Arsenal centred around the style of play they employed.

Spurs were more aggressive in the first half, even if their ball retention was 'inferior' to Arsenal's. But for all the possession the Gunners were allowed, they created precious little. They were stunned by a ridiculous Son Heung-min strike in the 13th minute and on one of the few occasions they got themselves into a promising position, Tottenham countered with devastating effect.

Serge Aurier passed to Giovani Lo Celso, Giovani Lo Celso passed to Son Heung-min, Son Heung-min passed to Harry Kane, Harry Kane scored. If it sounds simple it's because it was - Arsenal flooded players to all the wrong areas of the pitch, Thomas Partey was wandering around with some sort of knock near the touchline, and Spurs were allowed to move through the middle with frightening ease.

They flicked the switch from defence to attack with frightening pace, taking advantage of the two v four situation they had been gifted.

Mourinho probably knew the game as a proper contest was over at half time. Spurs had shown enough in attack to hold a comfortable 2-0 lead and, with their defence conceding few goals right now, set about protecting that advantage in the second half.

In that sense, yes, it was hard to watch. Tottenham offered little threat during the second 45, instead allowing Mikel Arteta's side to have the ball as they sat deep. Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos would ping passes out wide, the ball would come in and be headed away by either Eric Dier or Toby Alderweireld, and the cycle would continue.

Nobody likes to watch their side sit in when a rival could have been hit for four or five, but the points were guaranteed for Mourinho if he decided to shut the opponents out rather than go for the jugular.

Given that Tottenham threw away positions of strength earlier in the season, costing them precious points, it's hardy surprising Mourinho opted for that approach. He was right to, even if the panel on Sky Sports weren't entirely thrilled by their product being watered down and reduced to an attack vs defence session.

After all, there is more than one way to win a game of football. Spurs have played plenty of pretty stuff over the years - though don't be tricked into thinking they were pushovers, Mousa Dembele did gouge some dude in the eye once - but have been left with little to show for it.

Even in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons, when Mauricio Pochettino's side played some of the best football the north London club has ever seen, they were never in a position of strength to go on and win a league title. They were always playing catch up and never got ahead.

But now? Mourinho and Tottenham are at the top. It's not a position the club have been in regularly, but the latest win in this tough run of fixtures means Spurs are right in the mix with the rest of the competitors.

You may not like the style, but how can you argue against a style which has resulted in Tottenham topping the Premier League table? And do we just forget the 6-1 win against Manchester United or the 5-2 victory at Southampton?

Tottenham are capable of producing brilliant attacking performances, but the style employed against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal has resulted in Spurs picking up seven points from a possible nine.

There's no rule on having to like specific managers and their styles. If you dislike Mourinho, that's obviously fine. But with Tottenham's squad performing better than ever, is it really that smart or incisive to go after their style?

Nope. Old signs point towards the wheels coming off at some point under Mourinho, but that point evidently isn't now.

For more from Jude Summerfield, follow him on Twitter!