Tottenham Hotspur's alarming start to the Premier League season continued with a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The result leaves Roberto de Zerbi's side 18th in the table with just a single point from their opening three matches, having failed to score a single goal while conceding five.
The statistics paint a stark picture of Tottenham's attacking struggles. This is the first time since the 1974-75 season that the club has failed to score in its opening three league fixtures. Against Forest, they failed to register a single shot on target for the first time in a top-flight match since April 2022. Across the season so far, Spurs have taken 38 shots with an expected goals tally of 3.3, but the net has remained untouched. Pundit Danny Murphy pinpointed the issue. "When Spurs did get in really good areas, they just rushed it and shot when they maybe should've passed," Murphy said. He added that the team lacked the "calmness and composure" expected from top players in decisive moments.
Manager Roberto de Zerbi acknowledged the growing pressure but urged for patience with his new-look squad. He pointed to the significant investment and influx of new players since Forest's 3-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last March, a result that sparked their survival bid. "We bought very, very good players but you can't just build the team with the names like in Football Manager," de Zerbi stated. He emphasized that integrating ten senior arrivals takes time, leaving the team still searching for a clear identity. De Zerbi was particularly critical of decision-making in the final third, citing an instance where Omar Marmoush shot over with options available. He also noted that big-money signings Mykhailo Mudryk and Mathys Tel, while possessing great potential, need time and work to adapt.
The match saw several summer signings handed starts, including Sandro Tonali, Jon Paul Van Hecke, Savio, and Omar Marmoush. Their integration is a work in progress. De Zerbi revealed that Savio and Destiny Udogie were substituted after an hour as part of a pre-planned move based on medical advice, as neither is yet ready for 90 minutes. The manager also mentioned that Mohammed Kudus and Andy Robertson performed well but highlighted the difficulty for players to adapt immediately from the bench. The club's current injury list, which includes Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons, further complicates selection and consistency. Fans can track the latest squad availability on the club's injuries page.
This draw was Tottenham's eighth in the league this calendar year, their highest total since 2020. The point at least halted a run of two straight defeats, a fate avoided only when the video assistant referee ruled out a Neco Williams effort for Forest. The club's position is precarious, sitting eight points behind early leaders Manchester City. The immediate focus turns to halting this slide, with the next opportunity coming at home against Everton on September 12th. Supporters can view the full fixtures schedule ahead of this critical period. The team must find a spark quickly, as another blank in front of goal would see them equal a club record for the longest goal drought to start a league season.
