There are statistical anomalies, and then there is Tottenham Hotspur's relationship with penalty kicks.
That's if anyone associated with the club can remember what one of those is. The basic numbers are this: Spurs were last awarded a Premier League spot-kick away from home on May 13, 2023 - 1,216 days ago. The taker (and scorer)? A certain Harry Kane, who is now approaching the 150-goal mark with Bayern Munich.
Home penalties in the league have also become collectors' items, with the last one coming on May 25, 2025 - 473 days ago. Bizarrely, the Lilywhites have been given a decent number of spot-kicks in European competition, six since the end of November 2024.
The ludicrous wait for a Premier League penalty has left many fans wondering whether there is more to it than sheer bad luck, with many taking to social media to air their frustration and even suggesting a conspiracy against the club.
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One posted ruefully: "Fun fact of the day: Harry Kane has taken 50 penalties since Tottenham were last awarded one in the league away from home."
Another fumed: "These are the 'funny games' PGMOL like to play with Tottenham. It's just all 'joking around' when it's us." A third said: "This has to be an outlier that needs some explaining, surely?"
It's also been pointed out that Spurs have had five managers since their last domestic penalty away from home, while Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario have never been part of a Tottenham side awarded one while on their travels. To put it into context with worldwide events, Kane's 2023 spot-kick was awarded just a week after King Charles' coronation, while Joe Biden was still US president.
Spurs' detractors will cheekily point out that "you have to get near the opposition's goal to win a penalty" but that cheap shot doesn't stand up to scrutiny, according to stats provided by Opta.
Since Spurs were last given an away penalty, yo-yo club Burnley have been awarded three. Fellow relegated sides West Ham and Wolves have been given five and four respectively. Brentford lead the way with 10, ahead of predictable candidates Arsenal and Manchester City (both on nine). Next up on eight are Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.
Premier League away penalties given since Spurs were awarded one
Brentford: 10
Arsenal: 9
Man City: 9
Crystal Palace: 8
Bournemouth: 8
Chelsea: 8
Liverpool: 7
Newcastle: 7
Man United: 7
Brighton: 7
West Ham: 5
Fulham: 5
Leeds: 5
Nottm Forest: 4
Wolves: 4
Aston Villa: 4
Everton: 3
Burnley: 3
Sunderland: 3
Luton: 2
Leicester: 2
Spurs: 1
Ipswich: 1
Sheff United: 1
Southampton: 0
Coventry: 0
Hull: 0
Since Spurs' last home penalty, Newcastle and Brentford top the table with six, ahead of Chelsea on five and Bournemouth and Manchester United on four.
Again, it can't be argued that Spurs don't get in the box enough. Since the 2023/24 season, Tottenham have had 3,481 touches in the opponent's area. That is similar to Chelsea (3,421), Manchester United (3,305) and Aston Villa (3,118).
The most eye-opening stat is the number of touches in the box per penalty awarded. Spurs have had 580.2 touches in the area for every spot-kick, far more than any other side.
Next up are Everton (371.6), Southampton (364.0) and Ipswich Town (348.0). Remarkably, Chelsea have had just 136.8 touches in the box per penalty awarded, with only Leeds sitting below them on 119.0.
Touches in box per penalty awarded since 2023/24
Spurs: 580.2
Everton: 371.6
Southampton: 364.0
Ipswich: 348.0
Nottm Forest: 319.8
Aston Villa: 311.8
Burnley: 304.2
Arsenal: 270.1
Fulham: 267.7
Wolves: 258.0
Man City: 251.2
West Ham: 223.0
Leicester: 220.7
Liverpool: 204.4
Bournemouth: 199.3
Brighton: 193.3
Man United: 183.6
Luton: 166.0
Crystal Palace: 164.3
Newcastle: 161.2
Brentford: 155.4
Sunderland: 139.0
Sheff United: 139.0
Chelsea: 136.8
Leeds: 119.0
So Tottenham are getting in the opposition box, are looking dangerous and are creating chances. But how many more years will they have to wait for a penalty away from home?
Fans have every right to have raised their concerns - the stats don't lie.