Following their impressive 3-0 away victory against West Ham on Saturday, it has become evident that set pieces could be Tottenham`s primary pathway to success this season, particularly considering their ongoing struggles in open play. The opening goal in the second half, brilliantly delivered from a corner by new signing Xavi Simons to Pape Sarr, perfectly aligned with manager Thomas Frank`s strategic vision. Although Cristian Romero`s goal from a dead-ball situation was ultimately disallowed due to a foul, the precise deliveries from both Simons and Mohammed Kudus consistently generated dangerous opportunities throughout the match.
Tottenham`s second goal, a header from Lucas Bergvall, might not be categorized as a traditional set-piece goal. However, its origin from a long, accurate pass by Romero, culminating in a superb header past West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, further underscored the effectiveness of the well-rehearsed routines that Frank is diligently instilling in his squad.
Last season, Tottenham managed a meager 10 Premier League goals from set pieces, placing them among the league`s lowest performers in this area, while also conceding 13, putting them in the bottom third defensively. Though it`s still early in the campaign, under Frank`s guidance, the team is clearly reversing this trend. This season, Tottenham has yet to concede a goal from a set piece, simultaneously scoring two from such situations in just four matches. While they might not yet rival Arsenal`s impressive tally of five set-play goals, this marked improvement signifies a crucial step forward.
The squad remains a work in progress, actively striving to establish a consistent attacking rhythm in open play without the influential Heung-min Son, who has since moved to Los Angeles FC. Furthermore, the absence of key creative midfielders James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski highlights the critical importance of the additions of Simons and Kudus. Despite a rather tumultuous transfer window that saw them miss out on targets like Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, Tottenham ultimately conducted a strong recruitment drive, and these early returns are already demonstrating its value.
The team will undoubtedly require time to fully integrate all these new players, especially in possession-based play, but one certainty emerges: Tottenham will not finish 17th in the league again. Following their Europa League triumph and the departure of Ange Postecoglou this summer, expectations are naturally soaring for the Spurs as they make their highly anticipated return to Champions League football. The draw for the tournament has also been met with confidence by Frank and his team, especially given their promising initial performances.
Defensive stability will provide Tottenham with a solid foundation for a strong start in the Champions League, particularly before crucial away fixtures like the challenging encounter with Paris Saint-Germain. This will also afford Frank the necessary time to determine his optimal starting lineup. In future clashes with the Parisians, Tottenham will undoubtedly aim to replicate the confident performance of the first half of the UEFA Super Cup, where they took the lead through Micky van de Ven, actively avoiding the mistakes of the second half where a two-goal advantage was squandered.
That particular match underscored that Frank might have discovered a winning formula for Tottenham, adeptly balancing performances across multiple competitions. Now, the overarching challenge is to synthesize all these elements to propel the club to its next stage of development. While set plays will undeniably contribute significantly to this progress, if Kudus and Simons continue to build their effective synergy, this team is truly poised to deliver surprises, not only by reaching the Champions League Round of 16 but also by securing a coveted top-four finish in the Premier League.
