Tottenham have started keeping clean sheets and scoring goals in recent weeks, and Jan Paul van Hecke has been central to both.While there was a lot of focus on Spurs’ inability to find the back of the net earlier in the season, Roberto De Zerbi’s men also appeared to have big problems at the other end of the pitch.They were conceding some soft goals due to not being switched on at the back, and that has changed completely over the last few weeks.Tottenham have kept two back-to-back clean sheets, and have conceded just twice across their last four matches. In fact, the likes of Man United, Coventry City, Chelsea and Crystal Palace hardly fashioned any chances against the North Londoners. Saturday 31st October Premier League TottenhamTottenham2|0Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace Saturday 24th October Premier League ChelseaChelsea0|2TottenhamTottenham Monday 19th October Premier League TottenhamTottenham3|1CoventryCoventryPhoto by Alex Davidson/Getty ImagesJan Paul van Hecke credits Tottenham’s midfielders and strikers for defensive improvementSpurs’ centre-back pairing of Van Hecke and Micky van de Ven is certainly getting better with each game after looking shaky and indecisive at times in the first few games of the season.However, the former Brighton man insisted that the defensive improvements are not down to the backline alone, praising the midfielders and the forwards for the work they do running back and winning second balls.When asked about Tottenham’s two successive clean sheets, the 26-year-old told the club’s official website: “I think it’s really hard work that starts up front. If you see the boys, how hard they work, how many balls they recover, it makes it so much easier for us. Of course, we have good defenders; we have good goalkeepers, so that does also help, but I think it’s about the collective.”Asked about his partnership with Micky, Van Hecke added: “We’re really good friends, so it’s really nice to play together in the same team. We love it. That’s our fourth clean sheet, and we’re both really happy to play together, but it’s not only us, it’s the rest as well. If you see how much effort everyone puts in, it’s great.”J. van HeckeTottenham – Premier League (2026 – 2027)Appearances9Minutes Played810Average Rating7.73Goals2Tackles16Blocks10Interceptions9Duels Won54Fouls Committed11Yellow Cards2Red Cards0Stats correct as of 4 November 2026.Van Hecke could be first Spurs player to win Player of the Week award this seasonThe former Seagulls defender was hammered by parts of the media earlier in the season, but he has demonstrated over recent weeks just why he is a perfect player for De Zerbi’s system.In fact, according to both WhoScored and SofaScore, Van Hecke was the best-performing outfield player in Gameweek 9 in the Premier League.The Tottenham defender has not only been solid at the back, but his passing has stood out, making Spurs one of the most effective sides in the division at building out from the back.Van Hecke has been nominated for the Player of the Week award for Gameweek 9, and he would certainly be well deserving of the prize if he won it.READ MORE: Data shows Tottenham midfield has jumped from 17th to fourth-best in Premier LeagueThe post Jan Paul van Hecke names one Tottenham teammate he absolutely 'loves' playing with appeared first on Spurs Web.