Key Points
- The Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur continued their run without a goal in the league for 407 minutes after drawing 0-0 against Everton in a home game.
- It was the first time that Tottenham did not score a single goal in their first four league matches of a season in all four leagues in England, as well as four successive league matches since September 2006.
- This is the first-ever 0-0 draw in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 140 matches.
- The Tottenham Hotspur club spent more than £300m on summer transfers, including an all-time record of £85m on Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
- The Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi apologized to fans after hearing whistles from them when the match ended.
Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) September 12, 2026 – Tottenham Hotspur’s goalless start to the 2026–27 Premier League campaign extended to 407 minutes as Roberto De Zerbi’s side played out a 0-0 draw against Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The result marks the first time in the club’s history that Tottenham have failed to score in their opening four league matches across all four professional tiers. Furthermore, it represents Spurs’ longest top-flight scoring drought in four consecutive games since September 2006. Despite dominating large spells of ball possession, the host side failed to break down a resilient Everton defense, leaving them winless in the league and sitting just above the relegation zone after two draws and two defeats.
The stalemate also goes into the record books as the first 0-0 Premier League draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 140 top-flight matches played at the venue.
Why Has Roberto De Zerbi Issued an Apology to the Fans?
As reported by Hindustan Times, Roberto De Zerbi addressed the supporters immediately after full-time following audible frustration from the stands.
De Zerbi stated:
“I’m sorry for the fans. They were fantastic today. It is normal, the reaction of the fans.”
When asked about the slow start to the campaign after Tottenham invested over £300m in the summer market on ten new players, De Zerbi added:
“It is not a tough moment. A tough moment was last season in Sunderland when we were close to relegation. Now is one of the moments in football when you are rebuilding a team. We played very well in the first 30 minutes then we lost energy because our physical condition is not the best. We are working for that.”
Addressing the lack of goalscoring sharpness, De Zerbi remarked:
“We didn’t shoot enough for the quality of the play we showed. We had to shoot more times. We went inside the area 74 times but we didn’t create enough for the quality of the play. We have to work for sure. We have to analyse the quality of the decisions but we made too many wrong decisions. I’m not positive and I’m not negative. I am realistic. I have to analyse the performance and the potential situations when we could shoot and score with better decisions.”
De Zerbi also highlighted a drop in team morale during the match:
“I observed my players with a little less confidence in the second half and I don’t like this. They need to understand that we are in the right way. They are human. They are sensitive, they have emotions. My position is to help them and stay focused on the improvement we need to do. If we play 90 minutes like we did the first 30 we will win many games.”
How Did the Match Unfold Against Everton?
As detailed by GiveMeSport, Tottenham started with intent, securing dominant periods of possession during the opening half-hour but failing to convert opportunities into clear shots on goal. Dominic Solanke started his first match of the season in attack, while Brazilian winger Sávio offered creative output along the flank.
According to official match records, £85m Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes produced Tottenham’s first shot on target, which was met with ironic applause from sections of the home crowd. Fernandes was later substituted in the 62nd minute for Mohammed Kudus.
At the defensive end, Tottenham goalkeeper Antonín Kinský generated key moments at both ends of the spectrum. As noted by GiveMeSport, Kinský made a crucial goal-line header to clear an effort from Everton forward Thierno Barry. However, Kinský later committed a error in distribution during the second half, passing directly to Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in a one-on-one scenario. Kinský subsequently recovered to block Dewsbury-Hall’s effort and prevent a goal.
With seven minutes remaining, Tottenham played short passes in their own defensive third, drawing audible murmurs from the crowd before final boos confirmed the dissatisfaction of the home audience at the final whistle.
Background of the Particular Development
Tottenham Hotspur entered the 2026–27 Premier League season following back-to-back 17th-place league finishes in preceding years. The club managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the previous campaign, prompting significant changes to squad composition and strategy over the summer break.
To restructure the squad under Roberto De Zerbi, the Tottenham board sanctioned expenditure exceeding £300m across ten summer signings. A key transfer included the record £85m acquisition of Portuguese international midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United, alongside forward additions including Dominic Solanke and Sávio.
Despite the financial backing, Spurs have struggled for domestic efficiency in August and September. Their only competitive victories and goals of the 2026–27 campaign so far have come in the EFL Cup against second-tier opponent Charlton Athletic.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Tottenham Hotspur and Its Stakeholders
The ongoing goal drought and winless league run could lead to several strategic and operational adjustments across the organization:
- Tactical and Personnel Adjustments: Roberto De Zerbi may be forced to simplify build-up play from the back to reduce defensive errors, particularly surrounding goalkeeper Antonín Kinský’s short distribution. Continued inconsistencies could increase calls for senior backup Martin Dúbravka to step into the starting lineup.
- Attacking Restructure: With central striker Dominic Solanke yet to score in league play, De Zerbi may reconfigure his attacking options by providing increased starting roles to Mathys Tel or James Maddison to increase shot output.
- Pressure on Management and Board: Having committed over £300m to recruitment, the Tottenham board will expect immediate conversion of possession into Premier League points. Prolonged positioning near the relegation zone will heighten media scrutiny and fan discontent.
- Fan Engagement and Stadium Atmosphere: Continued goal-scoring struggles at home risk compounding frustration among match-going supporters, potentially impacting overall home atmosphere during upcoming Premier League fixtures.
