adminTottenham Hotspur are still waiting for their first Premier League victory of the new season after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side have now gone three league matches without scoring, with their latest performance at the City Ground once again exposing their problems in the final third.
Two of Spurs’ summer attacking recruits, Omar Marmoush and Savio, were handed starting roles against Oliver Glasner’s side, but neither player was able to seriously test Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
However, they were not the only Tottenham attackers who struggled to make an impact. Another Lilywhites star endured a disappointing afternoon and could now find himself dropped when Spurs face Everton next weekend.
Why De Zerbi should consider dropping Tel
Despite Tottenham investing more than £300m during the summer transfer window, Mathys Tel has remained a regular starter during the opening weeks of De Zerbi’s reign.
The French forward had started all three Premier League matches before the Forest game, but his performances have failed to justify the continued faith placed in him.
Tel was once again named in the starting XI at the City Ground, just as he was against Brentford and Newcastle United. Yet his statistics against Forest suggest he is currently struggling to provide the attacking threat Spurs desperately need.
The 21-year-old played 74 minutes but failed to register a single shot on target. He also completed only one of his five attempted dribbles, highlighting his difficulties when trying to take on defenders.
His struggles continued when it came to crossing, with Tel completing just 29% of his deliveries. He was equally ineffective in physical battles, losing 80% of his ground duels as Forest’s defenders largely kept him under control.
With Tottenham still searching for their first goal of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, De Zerbi may now have to consider making changes to his attacking setup, including Tel’s position in the starting XI.
Another Spurs player who struggled
Tel was not the only Tottenham player to endure a difficult afternoon against Forest.
For long periods, Spurs were forced onto the back foot and struggled to find a way through Glasner’s five-man defensive system.
Tottenham failed to register a single shot on target throughout the contest, with several of their attacking players unable to make the difference when opportunities arose.
While some of the club’s new signings can understandably be given time to adapt to De Zerbi’s tactical demands, Pedro Porro cannot use that excuse.
The experienced full-back has started each of Tottenham’s last two league matches but once again looked short of his best against Forest.
Porro played the full 90 minutes, but his statistics painted a picture of a player who struggled to cope with the intensity of the contest.
Like Tel, he had problems when attempting to beat opponents, completing just 25% of his dribble attempts.
His delivery was also disappointing. The Spaniard attempted 13 crosses into the Forest penalty area but successfully found a teammate with only three of them, giving him a poor 23% success rate.
Porro’s problems in possession were highlighted further by his 24 turnovers, the highest figure among any player who started the match.
Defensively, the right-back also struggled to impose himself. He won just three ground duels, giving him a success rate of 43%, while he was beaten by an opponent on two occasions.
Overall, it was a performance in which Porro failed to make a meaningful impact at either end of the pitch.
Following such a display, De Zerbi may now have little choice but to consider removing the Spaniard from his starting XI when Tottenham travel into their next league fixture against Everton.
Both Tel and Porro struggled to provide the quality required to help Spurs claim all three points at the City Ground. With Tottenham still searching for their first victory and goal of the season, De Zerbi could be forced into some major selection decisions before next weekend.
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