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It is hard not to feel for Mathys Tel. The young Tottenham Hotspur left winger was the only thing remotely resembling a bright spot in the 2025/26 Premier League season after Mohammed Kudus went down with a hamstring injury, and he was the team's best player in the preseason. He even actually played well on Matchday 1 in a blowout loss to Brentford despite the criticisms, and while he struggled thereafter before his benching, you could still see the electricity and glimpses of quality.

Tel did not start since the beginning of September as Roberto De Zerbi divested from him fully with new Manchester City signing Omar Marmoush and Savio in the fold, as well as Kudus rounding back to fitness after that hamstring ailment from the last season.

But De Zerbi gave Tel a start against the odds in the must win rivalry matchup against Chelsea, and he sealed the deal with a world class late goal, marauding down the left flank, cutting into the middle of the pitch, and unleashing another trademark clutch driven shot past Mike Penders in the Chelsea goal.

Omar Marmoush has no margin for error

Tel's breakout performance with two key passes, four dribbles completed, and a great goal as Tottenham Hotspur's leading threat came at the same time that Omar Marmoush started in the middle of the attacking formation over Dominic Solanke with a poor performance. Marmoush did not create chances, beat his man, or threaten the goalkeeper. And he was even sloppier than Tel on the ball again.

It is going to be impossible for Roberto De Zerbi to justify leaving Mathys Tel on the bench in next weekend's Halloween rivalry matchup against Crystal Palace. And it's not like he would want to either, as De Zerbi is a big fan of Tel, perhaps even moreso than either Solanke or Marmoush.

The Egyptian international has to be the most worried about Tel's breakout, though. Because if De Zerbi goes back to Solanke over him as the main striker option, he may not go back to Marmoush as the striker partner or the left winger. Because with Tel playing this well and scoring such a goal to nail down a starting spot, the left wing job or the left center forward job is going to swing towards the young Frenchman rather than the signing from Man City. Tel breaking out again is not the news Marmoush wants to see. It gives him even less margin for error.

Tottenham Hotspur are watching their blockbuster 100 million pound transfer Sandro Tonali get closer and closer to living up to his billing, and it seems like he is finding his groove in not only the Roberto De Zerbi system but at Tottenham in general.

Tonali rose to the occasion in a marquee matchup against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, helping Spurs control the middle of the park against the duo of Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson. Facing two very different profiles of established Premier League midfielders, Tonali kep the game ticking over, completing 90 percent of his 60 pass attempts while coming close to the team lead with four tackles.

With Mateus Fernandes all over the place as more of the 8 next to him, Tonali was the anchoring six, and he really blew people away with his defensive quality. Whereas Premier League fans watched Aston Villa kill Manchester City in transitions in a 2-1 upset to start Saturday's action as ex Chelsea defensive midfielder Enzo Fernandez had a woeful afternoon defensively with zero interventions at all, Tonali had his way in terms of covering for the back line.

Sandro Tonali can play lights out defense

It was almost as if Tonali was a third center back, sweeping up danger in front of Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke, giving De Zerbi's dyanmic Dutch duo plenty of support. So many players on Tottenham deserve credit for the clean sheet result, but undoubtedly a large part of that credit needs to go to Sandro Tonali.

For the quality on the ball, his leadership, his past success as a Serie A champion with legendary club AC Milan, and his ability to be a metronome of a passer as the general of the De Zerbi midfield, Tonali's defensive quality largely went overlooked in discussions about both his signing and his price tag to Tottenham Hotspur.

But while Enzo Fernandez has been exposed as a liability on the defensive side by Aston Villa, Chelsea, one of the best teams at efficiently getting the ball into scoring positions, really struggled in the hole against Tonali, who was a massive part of Tottenham totally neutralizing the best English duo of attackers in Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer.

Those guys did nothing, as Tonali was impervious. The Italian international was disciplined off the ball, efficient at tackling when engaging in duels, and better than anyone else on the pitch at finding the right man with the pass.

Although there was optimism that Destiny Udogie could return to the Tottenham Hotspur starting 11 against rivals Chelsea on Saturday after suffering yet another minor, nagging injury, the Italian international was unable to make it for Roberto De Zerbi, so the manager had to go back to his second string option Andy Robertson.

And although Robbo has teased a few better appearances this season, by and large, the free agent Scottish international has been a real blight for Spurs this year. Even though he was signed for free in terms of the transfer fee, Robetson is making a hefty 8.3 million pounds per season and is one of the highest paid players on Spurs.

The thing is, he is nowhere near being one of their top five players despite his high wages. Robertson struggled again and was even hooked off in the 64th minute as Spurs brought star right back Pedro Porro back into the fold for some key minutes off the bench vs. Chelsea as the Spanish international works himself back to full fitness.

Andy Robertson is not good enough cover for Destiny Udogie

Tottenham Hotspur did not sign Andy Robertson to be a star or to even compete with Destiny Udogie as a starter, but knowing Udogie's injury history and the fact that Djed Spence was likely to be sold, Spurs still have some expectations for Robertson. But instead of being a competent backup who ensures not too much of a drop off on the not so rare occasions that Udogie can't play, Robbo has been a massive, massive downgrade.

He was quite useless against Chelsea and comfortably one of the worst players on the pitch for either team. If Cole Palmer were actually more up top it, Robertson certainly would have been more exposed by the Blues on the road.

Robertson did not progress the ball at all for Tottenham and missed a few great opportunities to get his teammates like Mathys Tel and Omar Marmoush in on goal. He had only one key pass and was quite inaccurate with his passing overall.

Defensively, Robertson did not have a single intervention and was pretty disastrous, again, saved by the fact that Pedro Neto and Palmer had very ill disciplined days. But even then, the duo had Robertson on skates defensively a couple of times, and he had to be bailed out by covering midfielders or Micky van de Ven almost doing his job for him.

Tottenham are not getting their money's worth out of Robertson, and they may not be admitting it right now, but clearly they are having some buyer's remorse and probably should have signed someone younger and more versatile like Neco Williams.

As expected, Tottenham Hotspur right winger Mohammed Kudus drew the toughest assignment of any Spurs attacker, but you could argue that even though he was going up against the Chelsea defensive duo of Levi Colwill and Jorrel Hato together as a tag team, the former West Ham United man was mayeb the most consitent attacking player for the Lilywhites.

Mathys Tel stole the show with an insane goal at the end of the game to seal the deal for Tottenham, and he had the most key passes and dribbles completed. But what Kudus did was so important in a road rivalry game going up against a very tough matchup and that was his ability to win the duels and put in the work to run the opposition ragged.

You could not help but constantly hear Kudus's name called by Peter Drury and the commentary team on Saturday afternoon at Stamford Bridge. The Ghanaian international had three dribbles completed and a chance created, but what really made the difference was how much he was willing to fight and defend.

Mohammed Kudus brought the grit for Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur needed all hands on deck in order to beat Chelsea in a comprehensive performance on the road and exorcise their demons at Stamford Bridge. And they got it. Nobody typified that display more than Mohammed Kudus. To beat a rival with the star power Chelsea have on the road, it takes a team effort and the attackers defending just as hard as the midfielders and defenders.

Kudus had three tackles and an interception, finishing the game as one of the leaders on the entire team in defensive interventions. From the day he joined Tottenham from West Ham, Kudus endeared himself to Spurs fans with his effort and intensity, and we got to see the culmination of that on the big stage, and, honestly, the pundits on the big networks should be raving more about what Kudus did.

This season, Kudus has been earning plaudits for his skill on the ball, which was the case at Ajax, West Ham, and, of course, in his first season at N17. With 2.4 dribbles completed per game this season despite starting in less than half of his seven appearances and 3 dribbles completed alone in the win over Chelsea, Kudus has brought the skill, yes. But against Chelsea, he also brought the grit, and that will do Roberto De Zerbi and the fans very proud.

Only once this season has Mateus Fernandes played the full 90 minutes in a Premier League match for Tottenham Hotspur, and the Portuguese international has actually never started at all in his preferred defensive midfield position. Manager Roberto De Zerbi has made vague statements about Fernandes not being ready, but for many Spurs fans, it is unacceptable to see an 85 million pound signing not even being given a real chance in his best position.

But with James Maddison fully fit in the attacking midfield, now feels like the right time to unleash Fernandes. Maybe an opponent as strong as Chelsea in an environment like Stamford Bridge is a step too far for a young player whom De Zerbi determined not ready for the Aston Villa game - and chose Conor Gallagher to start again.

That being said, Fernandes was good enough to be one of the best Premier League midfielders last season. And he was more than good enough for Spurs to spend 85 million pounds on, beating the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid to his signature.

Tottenham need Mateus Fernandes's dynamism

Chelsea have one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League in Moises Caicedo. But they also have one of the best central attacking groups in the league, too, in Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro as playmakers who like to drop deep and move inside. And then there is Jordan Henderson, proving what is old is new in the world today.

Tottenham Hotspur are going to need an accomplished defensive midfielder of their own in Mateus Fernandes to help support Sandro Tonali at the base of Roberto De Zerbi's midfield with hard work and intelligent covering for the defensive line. They will need him to bully Palmer and Pedro off the ball so Spurs don't get picked apart by Xabi Alonso's high upside attack. And they will also need him to explode in the next gear in transition to help the likes of Mohammed Kudus carry the ball up the pitch.

Fernandes should be one of the best Premier League midfielders for Spurs, too. And an opponent like Chelsea is exactly the right time to unleash a potentially sleeping giant. Sure, Fernandes is young, but he was a rival to Chelsea while at West Ham United and played well under the bright lights in 2025/26 himself. It's time to let Fernandes take the league by storm once again, but this time in Lilywhite colors.

Last season, Mohammed Kudus was the only real bright spot for the Tottenham Hotspur attack, and when he went down with a season ending hamstring injury, it truly all fell apart for the Lilywhites without Kudus's ability to run the counter, take players on, and make something happen all on his own with just about no other help.

Kudus has two assists already this season, and he has been one of the most efficient dribblers in the Premier League on a per 90 basis. Steadily, the tricky Ghanaian winger is looking more dangerous, and with Savio injured, he drew another start on the right wing in Spurs first win of the season last Monday vs. Coventry, assisting after a great run into the box.

Even though Chelsea do not have a vaunted defense, it is young, hungry, and improving under one of the best managers in the world in Xabi Alonso. And the left side of the Chelsea defense is their strength with Jorrel Hato on the wing and Levi Colwill as the left sided center back. These guys are great at winning the ball, playing physical, and keeping up with a player like Kudus who likes to win with speed and agility.

Chelsea will make it tougher for Mohammed Kudus

Tottenham Hotspur will have to hope that Mohammed Kudus can continue to build off these positive performances with two assists in his last three games and above average performances in total, because as an outlet and a progressor on the right side, he is very important in Spurs piecing the attack together, keeping width, and setting the table for Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke as the goal scorers.

There's no doubt that one on one, Kudus is going to have the toughest battles ahead of him against Chelsea. Jorrel Hato is not the finished product yet, but he has a lot of talent, and as a wing back, he's one of the tougher defenders to come up against. And then with a top Premier League center back like Levi Colwill behind him, that gives two layers for Kudus to go up against, which then becomes even tougher in a 3-5-2 because he is the only wide guy.

Now, a 4-3-3 is more likely with Pedro Porro ready to play, or if they play together in a different formation with a back three, Kudus would be more forward in a 3-4-3. But either way, Kudus is going to have to work extra hard for his dribbles and, especially, for his chance creative qualities at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham Hotspur finally won their first game of the season this week, 3-1 over Coventry, but they will face a much sterner test that will really tell them how close they are to competing with the best in the Premier League again. Not that Chelsea have been that impressive since the start of last season either, but with Xabi Alonso coaching them and some of the most talented attackers in the league, they are a great test, especially on the road, for a Spurs side in high spirits.

Center back Micky van de Ven has been a man reborn and the new captain of the squad since Roberto De Zerbi took over as Tottenham manager, and while he is shutting down one on ones this season with an average of 0.2 dribbles complete per game allowed, it does feel like his spot as a starter isn't as steadfast as it could be.

There are some Spurs fans who were more impressed with Marcos Senesi in his stead in terms of his quality on the ball and even the security of his defending against Manchester United, which is surprising. And then in the back three set up, Tosin Adarabioyo blew a lot of fans away again with an excellent performance as the right sided center back.

Micky van de Ven needs to win more duels

Van de Ven has been doing a great job of shutting players down before he even has to intervene, and that has probably led to him being a bit underrated. But at a club like Tottenham Hotspur and in the setup Roberto De Zerbi plays where he wants Spurs to be aggressive, on the front foot, and swarming the opposition, Spurs are going to expect more from Van de Ven as a starting center back in terms of his defensive interventions.

With 1.2 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per game, Van de Ven has not been bad by any means at winning the ball, but he is definitely lagging behind his teammates, especially when you look at how aggressively Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi are winning the ball back - and Tosin Adarabioyo when he plays, too.

Chelsea have one of the most in form strikers in European football in Joao Pedro, and Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer continue to be two of the Premier League's biggest superstars. They are all in top form under Xabi Alonos, and if Spurs are to win on the road, then they are going to need Micky van de Ven to be more aggressive and more of a superstar at the back with the captain's armband. He will be tested to be firmer and more active for his team.

Tottenham Hotspur picked up a 3-1 win in James Maddison's return to the starting 11 against his childhood club Coventry, and that was clearly no coincidence when you look at how well the English veteran attacking midfielder played. Not only did he score an incredible opening goal with the finesse and placement to smash the ball into the top corner with swerve across the mouth of the goal, but he also ran the show as a playmaker with smart passing and movement off the ball.

Maddison is a guaranteed starter going forward, and everyone can see that Tottenham are a better team when he plays than when he doesn't. Every single time he is out there on the pitch, fans remark at how he looks a cut above the rest of his teammates, and that was honestly the case yet again in the win over Coventry.

Tottenham will face a much, much tougher test this weekend in the Premier League against rivals Chelsea, who regularly spanked them last season and now have a more competent coach leading them in Xabi Alonso.

Roberto De Zerbi has to know his quartet

Spurs do not have Savio at their services due to a recent injury, but that only makes the front four more obvious. It's unclear if Roberto De Zerbi will continue with a back three and something of a 3-5-2 formation against the Blues on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, but regardless of the specifics, the quartet he has to roll with is definitely going to be Mohammed Kudus, James Maddison, Omar Marmoush, and Dominic Solanke again.

Maddison is a must as the playmaker pulling the strings. With no Savio, Kudus will be the biggest one on one threat and the inverted left footed right winger who can carry the ball into the final third and into the penalty box to wreak havoc - just as he did on the assist for Maddison's worldie.

And then you have the mercurial pairing of Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke, who can be a striker partnership again in a 3-5-2 or play in a way where Marmoush hangs off the left and cuts inside as the support striker to Solanek up top in the usual Tottenham Hotspur 4-3-3 setup.

But again, no matter what De Zerbi chooses, these are the four attacking players who, right now, give Spurs their best shot at winning. Their rough roles are pretty well established, too, even if the exact lineup and formation of where they stand is up in the air a bit.

When Roberto De Zerbi announced that Dejan Kulusevski would be in the Tottenham Hotspur squad for the game against Coventry on Monday Night Football, many fans assumed it was a morale boosting move similar to what De Zerbi did when he first had James Maddison come back from his ACL tear at the end of the 2025/26 season wtih appearances on the bench before coming in as a sub.

Even though Kulu was making great progress from his career threatening knee injury that occurred in the 2024/25 season around the same time as Madders's ailment, Spurs were seemingly taking things cautious, which led to many assuming Kulu would not be back in the team until November for some limited action.

Instead, the Swedish international made his triumphant return against Coventry in a 3-1 win to cap off a dream day for the Tottenham faithful, and he had a memorable run in transition where he looked a bit like the Kulu of old, which gives Spurs fans a lot of hope going forward.

Dejan Kulusevseki is the closer now

Dejan Kuluseveski has been one of Spurs best players over the years since joining from Juventus, and while there are still questions about his fitness and how explosive he can be, that glimpse of a run provided a positive, encouraging answer to the fans about what he can provide.

But all Tottenham Hotspur need from Kuluseveski right now is for him to be a spark. They just need him to do exactly what he did in his return against Coventry: come off the bench, play for a good 10-15 minutes, and help the team progress the ball into the attacking area in transition.

Kulusevski doesn't need to score, he doesn't need to be a world beating one on one player, and he doesn't need to be the team's main creator. Tottenham already have Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke tasked with the goals, James Maddison and Sandro Tonali to create, and Savio and Mohammed Kudus to win the take ons.

What they need Kulusevski to do is play smart with the ball, drive the game forward, be incisive, and make good passes to his teammates into the final third so that they are in position to make things happen. Kulu can and will score and assist, and maybe he can be one of the leaders in dribbles completed, too. But for now, Spurs just need Kulu to be a bright spot for 10-15 minutes who helps them close games out with wins.

Tottenham Hotspur have arguably played more complete games this season, but in terms of the overall result, their 3-1 victory over Coventry was exactly what fans had hoped for after six games without a win to start the season. The improved quality of the squad and Roberto De Zerbi's tactics were finally rewarded with a win, as De Zerbi shifted his team into a back three and played a little bit differently with some of the key absences in the squad, such as the continued lack of Pedro Porro at right back.

Tosin Adarabioyo slotted into the starting 11 for one of the rare times this season, playing as the right center back with Micky van de Ven on the left and Jan Paul van Hecke in the middle. All three of them played reasonably well, Van Hecke included, but the player to soak up the most praise was Adarabioyo, who looked perfectly at home in a back three, just as he has in the past.

Tosin is exceeding expectations

Tottenham playing more back threes will serve Adarabioyo and argaubly the other center backs, including De Zerbi's pet favorite Van Hecke, well, and Tosin has really emerged as one of the surprises of the season for Tottenham. Whether in the Premier League or the League Cup, Tosin is exceeding expectations, and he is both defending well and playing the ball at a high level, with the latter being something both valued by De Zerbi and a quality that was always rated highly in the player; it's the reason why Chelsea signed him.

A lot of people didn't see Tosin Adarabioyo as a legitimate signing for Tottenham and were upset about him replacing Kevin Danso, but not only is it true that he fits what Roberto De Zerbi wants in terms of playing style and tactics a lot better, but he really just looks like a flat out better player - far less limited as an athlete.

Jan Paul van Hecke is safe as a starter, but a lot of Tottenham Hotspur fans have come away even more impressed with Tosin than Van Hecke. A lot of that is probably the differential in expectations which skews things to an easier Tosin evaluation, but Tosin playing this well as a ball playing center back and athletic presence will ensure taht even if Van Hecke is the teacher's pet, he can't get too complacent as a starter either.