Tottenham's Winning Streak: A New Era Under De Zerbi?

Tottenham Hotspur is finally finding its footing under head coach Roberto de Zerbi. After a lengthy wait, the team has strung together three Premier League wins in a row, a feat they hadn’t accomplished in nearly 21 months. On Saturday, Spurs dominated Crystal Palace, who faced a major setback early on when striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off just 13 minutes into the match for a reckless tackle on Micky van de Ven. With this victory, Tottenham has climbed into the top half of the Premier League table. Goals from Archie Gray and Jan Paul van Hecke solidified their win, building on the confidence gained from their season-opening triumph against Coventry City and a memorable victory at Chelsea—only their second league win at Stamford Bridge in 36 years. Despite the excitement, there was a palpable tension in the air at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Many fans were wary, fearing that facing a struggling side could lead to an upset. However, the players were having none of it. They seized the opportunity to capitalize on Palace's misfortune, turning the game into a convincing win. This three-match winning streak is a welcome change, marking the first time Tottenham has accomplished this since February 2025—over 600 days ago. It’s striking to note that this matches the total number of wins they achieved in their last 26 league games, where they drew 10 and lost 13, dating back to the middle of last season. Moreover, this marks their first set of back-to-back home wins in the league in two years. It's a refreshing shift from the disappointing seasons filled with losses and near relegation. The atmosphere around Spurs is transforming, especially since they broke the mental barrier of securing their first league win against Coventry. De Zerbi shared his thoughts after the game, highlighting the passion and focus exhibited by his players. "We created numerous chances and could have scored more, but we need to be more ruthless in front of goal," he said. The manager called for patience with his high-profile summer signings, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, both of whom are beginning to find their rhythm. Tonali, in particular, was instrumental against Coventry and continued to showcase his running ability and creativity in this match. Dejan Kulusevski also made a vibrant return from injury, adding an extra attacking threat as he pushed Palace's goalkeeper Dean Henderson to make crucial saves. There’s a growing sense that Spurs’ hefty £300 million summer investment may finally start paying dividends. The stats from the match reflect their dominance; Spurs managed 34 shots compared to just two for Crystal Palace, marking the largest shot differential recorded against any opponent since 2003-04. With 79.4% possession, it was their second-highest total in a Premier League match, just shy of the 80.2% they held against Newcastle in August 2019. De Zerbi expressed his renewed ambition for the club, stating: "We are Tottenham. We need to remain hungry and aim to win consecutive games to keep our fans happy. Three wins in a row is a good start, but we must maintain this level of commitment and spirit moving forward." The mood around Spurs is undoubtedly shifting, and for the first time in a while, the trajectory seems to be pointing upward under De Zerbi's guidance.