Tottenham's Ongoing Struggles in Premier League

Tottenham’s wait for a first Premier League goal – and a first win – drags on. Everton came to north London, dug in, and left with a goalless draw that felt all too familiar for a Spurs side still searching for rhythm, incision and a cutting edge.

The crowd grew restless. The shots barely came. When they did, they were greeted with ironic applause. Here’s how the Spurs players measured up on another frustrating afternoon.

Player Ratings

Antonin Kinsky – 6

A mixed Premier League outing. He produced a sharp stop to keep out James Garner’s free-kick and later bailed himself out with another save after gifting the ball straight to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with a loose pass. Solid enough overall, but that error almost undid his good work.

Archie Gray – 7

One of the few who injected any real drive. Gray stepped out from defence with purpose, breaking lines and adding an extra body in attack. His willingness to carry the ball forward gave Spurs some badly needed momentum from the back.

Jan Paul van Hecke – 6

Should have done better with an early chance at the far post, where a cleaner connection might have changed the game’s tone. Defensively, though, he stayed composed, read the danger well and kept things tidy.

Micky van de Ven – 6

Rarely extended. Everton offered little threat in behind and van de Ven dealt comfortably with what came his way. A quiet afternoon, but in a good sense for a centre-back.

Andrew Robertson – 7

A familiar, relentless presence down the left. He largely subdued Brennan Johnson and still found the legs to surge forward with those trademark overlapping runs. Offered width, energy and experience in a side short of conviction in the final third.

Rodrigo Bentancur – 6

The metronome in midfield. Bentancur knitted play together neatly, kept the ball moving and stayed calm under pressure. Efficient and reliable, even if he couldn’t quite unlock Everton’s block.

Sandro Tonali – 6

The occasional flash of class – a touch here, a pass there – but nowhere near the dominant, £100m midfield force Spurs need him to be. The technique is obvious; the influence on the game, less so.

Savio – 7

For a while, he looked like the one who might make something happen. Lively on the right flank, he ran at his full-back and hinted at real promise with a few sharp bursts and dangerous moments. The intensity faded as the minutes ticked by, but there was at least a glimpse of what could come.

Mateus Fernandes – 5

The game passed him by too often. He struggled to impose himself between the lines and offered little penetration. When he finally let fly with a shot, it drew ironic applause – less a celebration of his effort, more relief that Spurs had actually taken aim.

Omar Marmoush – 5

Plenty of work, not enough impact. Marmoush chased, pressed and tried to stretch Everton’s defence, but never really looked like breaking them open or finding the decisive moment.

Dominic Solanke – 4

Back in the Premier League XI and it showed. Rusty, short of sharpness and rarely a threat in the box. His hold-up play didn’t quite stick and he struggled to influence proceedings before being withdrawn just after the hour.

Substitutes

Mohammed Kudus (on 63, Fernandes) – 4

Introduced to add spark and incision, but he never got up to speed with the game. Drifting on the periphery, he struggled to find pockets of space or meaningful touches in dangerous areas.

Lucas Bergvall (on 63, Bentancur) – 6

At least tried to tilt the contest. He injected some urgency, swung in one dangerous cross and came close with a late effort that almost stole the points. One of the few substitutes who genuinely shifted the tempo.

Mathys Tel (on 63, Solanke) – 5

Offered a different kind of threat with a couple of tricky runs and direct dribbles, but the final ball and end product weren’t there. Flashes, nothing more.

James Maddison (on 77, Marmoush)

Too little time to reshape a game already drifting towards stalemate. His introduction lifted the noise, not the scoreline.

Tosin Adarabioyo (on 85, Gray)

A late, pragmatic change to shore things up rather than chase chaos. Barely involved.

Subs not used: Dubravka, Davies, Gallagher, Senesi.

Spurs leave with another blank, another point, and a growing question: how long can a team with this talent go without finding its cutting edge?