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Tottenham have started the season with a strong defensive record, yet one statistic shows that Pedro Porro has not hit the ground running under Thomas Frank.

Thomas Frank’s side have shown early on in the Premier League season that they are capable of keeping clean sheets even against some of the best attacking sides.

Two clean sheets in three games with one goal conceded is an impressive record for a side that finished 17th last term, ending on negative goal difference.

Frank’s side have held their own even against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, keeping a clean sheet against the Citizens away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham’s Pedro Porro tops unwanted Premier League stat

The 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth in matchweek three was a wake-up call that there is still room to improve as a team and as individuals.

A statistic from WhoScored has now revealed that one Tottenham player has been easy to get past in the opening three gameweeks of the Premier League.

According to the outlet, no defender has been dribbled past more times than Pedro Porro in the league this season, with the Spurs full-back beaten a total of six times in the three gameweeks so far.

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Porro’s attacking demands are hurting his defensive solidity

Porro struggled against Bournemouth in Tottenham’s last fixture, with Antoine Semenyo finding it easy on the right of Spurs’ defence.

Thomas Frank had to take the Spaniard off following his inability to contain the Ghana international, with Destiny Udogie making his return for the first time this season, while Djed Spence had to move over to the right.

Porro offers more to Tottenham than his defensive capability, with the full-back possessing a wide range of passing that allows him to create from open play and dead-ball situations.

However, at this level, every facet of the game matters and Frank will be hoping he can help his full-back improve on this statistic.

We have compared Tottenham Hotspur’s next five Premier League fixtures with those of their big six rivals to see how they stack up.

Tottenham Hotspur could not manage a victory in their final fixture in August, with Thomas Frank’s side falling to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.

The defeat meant Tottenham missed the chance to go top of the Premier League table during the international break, with the Lilywhites now firmly sat in fourth place with six points from a possible nine.

Meanwhile, Liverpool top the Premier League table after securing a 1-0 victory over Arsenal, maintaining a perfect record of three wins, while Chelsea are now in second place with seven points, having beaten Fulham in matchweek three.

Arsenal are level on points with Tottenham but sit above them in the League table only on goal difference, despite having conceded the same number of goals as Tottenham and Chelsea, one.

Tottenham next five Premier League fixtures compared to their rivals

Following the defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to Bournemouth, Spurs Web has now taken a look at Tottenham’s upcoming fixtures compared to their Premier League rivals.

Tottenham’s next five games:

Liverpool’s next five games:

Arsenal’s next five games:

Chelsea’s next five games:

Manchester City’s next five games:

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Thomas Frank has wasted no time making bold calls ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League campaign, with several high-profile names set to miss out on the club’s squad list.

One thing has been on the minds of many Tottenham Hotspur supporters ahead of their long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League, and that has been the issue of squad registration.

Tottenham do not have the required number of club-trained players to meet UEFA rules, which means a handful of big names were always expected to miss out once the squad was finalised.

The Champions League draw has already been made, and Spurs are now fully aware of their eight different opponents in the new League phase, with Frank’s first taste of UCL football coming at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Villarreal.

Thomas Frank makes UCL squad call for Tottenham

Thomas Frank has now submitted his UEFA Champions League squad and, according to the list published on UEFA’s official website, the Dane has made some major calls by leaving out six players.

As things stand, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Kota Takai, Mathys Tel and Radu Dragusin have all been omitted from Tottenham’s Champions League group.

Meanwhile, new signings Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons and Kolo Muani have all been included, as Spurs look to make a statement on their return to Europe’s premier competition after a two-year absence.

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Tottenham omissions raise big questions

The decision to leave out James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski is understandable, with both midfielders battling long-term injuries.

Kulusevski is expected to return between December and January, but by then the League phase will be drawing to a close, while Maddison may not play at all this season as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury.

Yves Bissouma’s exclusion feels more telling, as it could well spell the end of his Spurs career, with a transfer remaining possible for Bissouma with transfer windows elsewhere still open.

Tottenham fans have predicted the top scorer for this season and how many goals they think they will accumulate, with Brennan Johnson, Richarlison and Kolo Muani all backed.

Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping that after strengthening their squad this summer, performances across all competitions will show signs of real progress.

Last season, Tottenham were far from consistent, as their domestic form left a lot to be desired, but they were close to flawless in Europe and eventually lifted the Europa League trophy in Bilbao.

At the heart of the goals was Brennan Johnson, who ended the campaign as the club’s top scorer in the Premier League, the Europa League and in all competitions, with his standout strike being the toe poke in the Europa League final.

Tottenham fans make predictions on top scorer

With fresh additions arriving in the squad following the closure of the transfer window, we took to X to ask Spurs fans to share who they believe will finish as the club’s top scorer this season.

Plenty of supporters were quick to make their feelings known, with a range of names being mentioned. One fan confidently stated: “Johnson – 15 goals (all comps).” Another threw in a different shout: “Muani 18.”

The predictions continued to pour in, with one fan even predicting unlikely figures for a defender: “Richarlison (~25 goals) Kolo Muani (~20 goals) Matar-Sarr (~15 goals) Xavi (~10 goals) Spence (~10 goals) Johnson (~10 goals) Pedro Porro (3 or 4 really awesome goals) VDV (a couple of bangers from set pieces) Romero (one very important goal). Solanke, idk.”

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Other replies stuck to similar names, with another Tottenham supporter adding: “Johnson 14 all comps,” while more predictions arrived for Johnson at 12 and for Randal Kolo Muani at 18 in all competitions.

One fan said: “Richy with 25 in all comps if he can stay fit. I think the goals will be really evenly spread again like last season.” A final prediction suggested: “Solanke 19 (12 PL – 7 other).”

Brennan Johnson and Richarlison lead early scoring race

So far this season, Richarlison and Johnson are tied as the club’s leading scorers, with both players having found the net twice in all competitions.

However, with the wealth of attacking options now available to Thomas Frank, it is difficult to say with certainty who will go on to finish as the top scorer.

Johnson has already proven his reliability, having ended as Spurs’ top marksman last term, and with his strong start to the current campaign, he has shown every sign of being able to produce a similar return again.

A young Swedish starlet, who is rumoured to be on Tottenham’s radar, has given a blunt response when asked about the speculation linking him with a move to the North London club.

Tottenham boast two of the best Swedish players in their squad, with Dejan Kulusevski being joined by Lucas Bergvall, who was voted Spurs Player of the Year in his first season at the club.

It was rumoured during the summer that the Lilywhites had their eye on another one of the best young talents from the Scandinavian country.

Tottenham allegedly explored a move for AIK Fotboll starlet Kevin Filling, who impressed in the lower division Swedish side Enkopings SK FK on loan earlier this year.

Kevin Filling is not paying attention to Tottenham rumours

The 16-year-old striker has stood out since returning to his parent club, having found the back of the net twice in five appearances for AIK this season.

However, the teenager has his focus firmly on continuing his development at the Swedish club, insisting that he paid no attention to the rumours about his future.

When asked how he reacted to reports linking him with Tottenham Hotspur and Man United, Filling told Fotboll Skanalen (as relayed by Sport Witness): “I try not to think about it in any special way. I just look at where I am now. I’m at AIK and I continue here every training session.

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“I’m going to get better as a person and as a player. That’s where I am (in my mind). For me, it feels pretty simple. Because that’s who I am as a person. That’s for others to handle.”

Barcelona beat Tottenham to another talented young Swede

Spurs have also been keeping their eye on another young Swedish forward, Roony Bardghji, who the Lilywhites allegedly approached this summer regarding a move to N17.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has given his seal of approval for Xavi Simons’ move to Tottenham Hotspur, with the former Everton boss believing that the attacking midfielder can thrive in North London.

The search for a new number ten at Tottenham was a saga that Spurs fans would not have enjoyed, with Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White both snubbing the Lilywhites.

However, the saga had a happy ending, with Xavi Simons eventually sealing a move from RB Leipzig to Tottenham in a £51m deal.

Thomas Frank has admitted that he is over the moon with Spurs’ capture of Simons, and he is not the only one who is excited about the transfer.

Ronald Koeman makes admission about Xavi Simons’ move to Tottenham

Spurs fans will have to wait another week and a half to see their new signing play for the club, with Simons joining the Netherlands squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Lithuania.

He is accompanied in the squad by his Tottenham teammate, Micky van de Ven, and his international boss, Ronald Koeman, believes that the 22-year-old has taken the correct step.

Koeman told Algemeen Dagblad: ” I’m very pleased with how this squad is developing, both as a team and individually. In June, he (Simons) already outlined his options and wishes to me. Last week, he told me it had become Tottenham Hotspur.

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“A fantastic club for him, in my opinion. You always have to wait and see, of course, but this seems like a wonderful step for him.”

Simons is the man to solve Tottenham’s creativity issues

Thomas Frank has fielded a workmanlike midfield combination with Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha in three of Tottenham’s four matches this season.

The shortcomings of that midfield were laid bare against Bournemouth last Saturday, with the Lilywhites struggling to create chances.

Jamie Carragher has already seen Tottenham’s new £52m signing live, and the Liverpool legend believes Xavi Simons has all the tools to be a success in north London.

There have been questions about whether Tottenham Hotspur could have approached the summer window differently; yet, the reality is that Thomas Frank’s squad did receive significant reinforcements.

Six new players arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, including a late deadline day deal that saw Randal Kolo Muani join on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, pushing the club’s overall spending to £170.6m.

Amongst those new arrivals, several stand out as players expected to make an immediate impact, with Xavi Simons in particular catching the eye, and it is this signing that has already earned praise from Jamie Carragher.

Jamie Carragher backs Tottenham signing Xavi Simons

Speaking on Sky Sports about Tottenham’s latest recruit, Jamie Carragher was full of praise for Xavi Simons, having previously seen him play up close for the Netherlands youth sides.

Carragher revealed that his own son had faced the midfielder during the summer, and it was in that moment he felt he was watching a player blessed with genuine quality and technical brilliance.

The former Liverpool defender went further, suggesting that while Tottenham supporters will be excited about what Xavi Simons brings, his arrival could place James Maddison’s long-term role under question, with the England international currently sidelined following knee surgery.

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Carragher said: “Xavi Simons. I watched Xavi Simons play against my son in the summer for Holland, and I was in a seat really close to the pitch, and you really get a good feel for a player.

“He’s got great quality, real good ability, listen, I’m going to say hit. He’s going to Spurs, is that the end for your mate Maddison? (to Roy Keane).”

Spurs business earns wider praise

Tottenham’s summer window has not only caught Carragher’s attention but has also drawn recognition elsewhere, with The Athletic naming Joao Palhinha as the signing of the summer across the Premier League.

The Portuguese midfielder joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich, with the deal including an option to make the move permanent for a fee just over £20m, which represents excellent value for a player of his experience and ability.

Tottenham defender Djed Spence has spoken about the unforgettable moment he received his first-ever England call-up, explaining how it happened and the emotions that came with it.

Djed Spence has had a whirlwind few months in a Tottenham Hotspur shirt, going from a player on the fringes to an England international.

A player who could barely get a look-in for Tottenham’s first-team squad is now amongst several Tottenham players who have jetted off to represent their national teams this international break.

Spence’s call-up came only weeks after Tottenham decided to extend his stay in north London until 2029, with the 25-year-old receiving two new contracts in less than a year.

Djed Spence reveals how he received England call-up

Speaking to the official Tottenham website, Djed Spence revealed exactly how he found out about his first-ever call-up to the England senior team.

The full-back explained that the news came through a text message, one that instructed him not to share the information with anyone before the official announcement.

Spence said: “I received a text about the call-up. I got told, obviously, not to say anything. I just had a big smile on my face. I told my family to watch out for the announcement.

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“It was just a great moment for me. I had seen some of the boys I played with at Under-21 level get their call-up. It was motivation for me, and now I am finally here.”

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank praises Djed Spence after England call-up

Representing England has long been a target for Djed Spence, who was tipped for a senior call-up last season but missed out.

His persistence and determination have finally paid off, earning him a place in the squad at a crucial time, with 2026 being a World Cup year.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was full of praise for Spence when speaking to reporters, crediting his journey and recent form for making the call-up possible.

Frank said: “Wow. How good is that? Big credit to Djed. He truly deserves it. What a journey to have it at 24, 25 years old this year. Being called up? I do not think many saw that coming.

“He had a good end to last season, he had a top pre-season, and he played very well in the three games against Paris Saint-Germain, Burnley and Man City, really giving a lot to the team. I am so happy for him.”

New Tottenham signing Xavi Simons missed a significant chunk of last season due to injury, but Spurs fans should not be too worried about the Dutchman’s fitness record.

Out of the six signings that Tottenham made in the summer transfer window, Simons is arguably the most exciting.

The 22-year-old arrives at N17 on the back of two exceptional seasons at RB Leipzig, with the Lilywhites paying £51m to secure the services of the Netherlands international.

His arrival comes as a much-needed boost for Tottenham Hotspur, who are currently without the services of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison due to injury.

Xavi Simons’ fitness record analysed after Tottenham transfer

With Maddison expected to be out for the season and with several sources suggesting that Kulusevski will not return until the end of the year, Thomas Frank is going to need Simons to stay fit to offer Tottenham a creative spark in midfield.

According to Transfermarkt, the new Spurs signing missed 15 matches for Leipzig last season due to an ankle injury.

While that may be concerning at first glance, Tottenham fans will be pleased to know that last season’s ankle injury is the only major one that Simons has had in his senior career so far.

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Frank can thus be hopeful that the newcomer will not spend too long on the treatment table, unlike some of his Tottenham teammates.

Thomas Frank was the main reason for Simons’ move to Spurs

Following Tottenham’s defeat to Bournemouth, Frank admitted that he is excited by the arrival of Simons, backing the 22-year-old to add a creative spark to the Spurs midfield.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Frank was the one who sold the Tottenham project to Simons, with the attacking midfielder allegedly seeing the switch to N17 as a ‘no-brainer’ following his talks with the Dane.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth was enough for Opta’s supercomputer to revise its predicted Premier League table, with the Lilywhites dropping two places after the result.

Before the start of the season, Opta’s Supercomputer predicted that Spurs would finish in 14th place, collecting an estimated 47.92 points.

That is not surprising, given how poor Tottenham Hotspur were in the Premier League last term, suffering 22 losses and finishing just one place above the drop zone.

Spurs started the season impressively with wins and clean sheets against Burnley and Man City, but they were poor against the Cherries last Saturday, with Andoni Iraola’s men exposing the North London side’s weaknesses.

Tottenham drop in Opta’s predicted Premier League table

Following the wins over the Clartes and City, Opta’s supercomputer predicted that Tottenham would finish 8th with 55.48 points.

However, their algorithm saw enough evidence in Spurs’ loss against the Cherries to revise their prediction, with Thomas Frank’s men dropping two places.

Opta now predicts that Tottenham will finish in 10th place, amassing 55.2 points over the course of the 2025-26 season.

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Why the West Ham game will be an acid test for Spurs

Spurs were thoroughly outplayed by Bournemouth on Saturday, with the away side unfortunate not to win by a bigger margin.

Only time will tell if that performance and result were an anomaly or if Frank’s Tottenham side will struggle to create chances against well-organised sides.