Key Points

• Spurs are one of the only three teams playing in the English top four professional leagues who have not scored a single goal in the ongoing season after a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest.
• With a huge spend in the summer transfer window totaling £394 million, Spurs have not been able to get their act together as they have not scored in their first three games in league competition since 1974.
• Manager Roberto De Zerbi has received a lot of criticism from all quarters over his team selection, especially the attacking one, as summer signings like Savio, Omar Marmoush, and Mathys Tel have not been able to fit into the team’s play.
• Many critics, including the former striker of Aston Villa, Gabriel Agbonlahor, have openly called upon De Zerbi to change his starting XI by recalling Dominic Solanke and James Maddison.
• De Zerbi admitted that his team needs to improve decision-making in the final third and remain calm while getting close to goal-scoring situations.

London, (North London News), September 9, 2026 — Tottenham Hotspur are facing a mounting crisis in the final third of the pitch, raising urgent questions over the tactical adjustments head coach Roberto De Zerbi must implement to resolve an unprecedented goalscoring drought. Despite splashing out an extraordinary £394 million on a massive squad overhaul during the summer transfer window, the North London club has recorded 270 minutes of Premier League football without registering a single goal. This bleak statistic leaves Spurs as one of only three teams across the top four tiers of English football yet to breach the opposition’s net this term, plunging the team into an unwanted piece of history by failing to score in their opening three league matches for the first time since 1974.

Why has Tottenham’s £394 million summer investment failed to yield goals?

The staggering financial backing provided to Roberto De Zerbi over the summer prompted high expectations among supporters, yet the transition on the pitch has proven disjointed. Following a catastrophic previous campaign, the club sought to refresh every department, welcoming high-profile attacking talents such as Savio, Omar Marmoush, Mathys Tel, and Mykhaylo Mudryk. However, these new arrivals have struggled to find a cohesive rhythm, often appearing isolated from one another during matches.

As reported by football.london, head coach Roberto De Zerbi did not seem overly alarmed after watching his side play out a 0-0 draw at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest, noting that his team created enough openings to claim victory.

As reported by football.london, Roberto De Zerbi stated that:

“We could have scored three or four goals today, because if you take the wrong decision, you don’t score. But for me it is a chance to score. I think we played well, but in the last third we have to improve. We have to take the better decisions. We have to keep more calm when we are very close to doing something important in the last third.”

Despite the manager’s defensive stance on his team’s overarching structure, the lack of a cutting edge has left fans increasingly frustrated. Against Nottingham Forest, Spurs failed to register a single shot on target, highlighting a profound lack of synchronization among the frontline players.

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What starting XI changes are pundits and analysts demanding?

The ongoing drought has sparked widespread debate regarding De Zerbi’s team selection, with critics pointing out that established players need to be reinstated to steady the ship. Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor voiced strong concerns over the current setup, explicitly calling on the Italian manager to alter his tactical approach by bringing back key personnel.

As reported by Yardbarker, Gabriel Agbonlahor stated that:

“Solanke has to start in the game. They need Maddison back in there. They need Solanke leading the line, and then two wingers off them. But it’s a big worry to not score yet.”

Dominic Solanke has been restricted to substitute appearances in each of the opening three league fixtures, despite proving his clinical capabilities on sporadic occasions, such as his goal in the Carabao Cup victory over Charlton Athletic. Meanwhile, playmaker James Maddison has missed successive fixtures across all competitions after sustaining a shoulder injury during the opening-weekend defeat to Brentford. While analysts argue for Maddison’s immediate return to unlock tight defenses, his fitness requires careful management given his recent injury history, casting doubt over his availability for the upcoming home fixture against Everton.

How are young signings and squad depth complicating selection choices?

De Zerbi is also grappling with the integration of younger prospects and recovering players who require time to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League. Summer signing Mykhaylo Mudryk made his club debut as a late substitute against Nottingham Forest, but largely appeared short of competitive match sharpness after a lengthy layoff. Discussing the development path of his youthful forward line, the Tottenham boss addressed the challenges of nurturing raw potential under intense competitive pressure.

As reported by football.london, Roberto De Zerbi stated that:

“In that position, we have Mathys Tel, big potential. But also Mathys takes too many wrong decisions, and Mudryk. So, two big players, two big potential players. But if we want to score, I think Marmoush has 15 goals… [Tel] has the potential to become one of the best players at Spurs but he needs to show more than he is right now.”

With options available across the pitch, including the potential inclusion of Mohammed Kudus once fully fit, De Zerbi faces critical decisions regarding how to construct a balanced, lethal attacking trident before facing Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Background of the Development

The current goalscoring crisis at Tottenham Hotspur stems from an turbulent transitional period following a major squad overhaul over the summer. Following a disappointing previous campaign that highlighted structural weaknesses, the club’s hierarchy heavily backed Roberto De Zerbi by authorizing an expenditure of approximately £394 million. This influx of capital led to the arrival of numerous high-profile attacking players designed to completely revamp the squad’s dynamic. However, football history consistently demonstrates that assembling an entirely new collection of players rarely yields immediate cohesion. The abrupt integration of multiple international talents into a new tactical system, coupled with early-season injuries to influential figures like James Maddison, created an environment where understanding and spatial awareness in the final third remain underdeveloped, culminating in the club’s worst start in front of goal in over fifty years.

This ongoing offensive stagnation and the subsequent tactical dilemmas pose significant implications for Tottenham Hotspur’s immediate trajectory in the Premier League. If Roberto De Zerbi fails to swiftly identify a settled, productive starting XI—potentially by integrating proven Premier League operators like Dominic Solanke and restoring stability in midfield—pressure from supporters and media will inevitably mount. For the players and the coaching staff, prolonged goalscoring difficulties risk eroding squad confidence and alienating fans who expected an instant return on the club’s massive financial outlay. Conversely, a decisive tactical shift that unlocks the scoring potential of new signings like Omar Marmoush and Savio could rapidly reverse the team’s momentum, transforming their defensive solidity into a platform for sustained success as the season progresses.