Tottenham Hotspur’s 2026/27 Premier League campaign is turning into a nightmare for Roberto De Zerbi after another disappointing outcome. The latest red flag arrived on Saturday when Spurs were held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
His first three fixtures have yielded no victories, a single point, and, most alarmingly, zero goals scored. The result at the weekend did stop Tottenham’s losing streak, but those connected with the club will recognize it offers little comfort, especially given their failure to find the net across three outings. Worse still, Spurs failed to test the goalkeeper with even one shot on target and were relieved to see a Forest strike disallowed by VAR.
Massive summer spending spree has not delivered for Spurs
Their transfer activity makes this sluggish opening even harder to justify.
Tottenham ranked among the Premier League’s heaviest investors during the summer window, committing over £300 million, with estimates suggesting the total reached roughly £350 million or higher. The club recruited attacking options such as Savio and Omar Marmoush, while also strengthening other parts of the roster. Mykhailo Mudryk has also made his comeback following a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
These signings have so far only added numbers rather than improving their attacking output. A significant issue remains at centre-forward, with Richarlison frozen out and no effective partnership emerging between Dominic Solanke and Marmoush. De Zerbi already seems to be running out of patience from the hierarchy.
Is De Zerbi already under serious threat of dismissal?
Judging a new coach and a revamped squad after just three matches would normally be premature. However, with Spurs, this does not resemble a standard slow adjustment period. De Zerbi’s side appears worryingly short of ideas.
Closer inspection of De Zerbi’s tactics reveals a recurring issue in progressing the ball into dangerous areas. They move it comfortably through midfield and into wide positions, covering what are often called the first two thirds of the pitch. Once the ball reaches the flanks, their creativity evaporates.
There is no genuine penetration between the opponent’s lines, allowing defenses to reorganize before Spurs can strike. Eventually, they exhaust their options, and that hesitation opens space for the opposition to seize control.
This is especially concerning because De Zerbi’s philosophy relies on sharp execution. His setup can generate attacking openings, but it depends on players making fast, intelligent choices and building strong connections. Right now, Tottenham’s new arrivals seem to be figuring out each other’s runs while attempting to absorb an exacting tactical framework.
To be fair, they have dealt with a couple of fitness setbacks, and the squad has undergone significant changes. They also displayed some defensive resilience against Forest, which offers a small positive. Yet the strain is undeniable. Tottenham have set an unwanted record with their first three league matches without a goal in Premier League history, and their worst scoreless start to a top-flight season since 1974/75.
De Zerbi might not warrant the sack after three games, but the scale of their investment gives the club’s leadership every reason to evaluate their alternatives.