Tottenham still looking for their saviour and key talking points from Everton draw | OneFootball

Another attacking option, another blank up top

For the first time in their history, Tottenham failed to score in their first four league games of the season as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Everton.

After an uninspiring stalemate against Nottingham Forest last weekend, Roberto De Zerbi would have been hoping for his team to break their scoreless streak, but it was another frustrating performance.

In the end, Everton had the best chances to win the game, and Spurs can count themselves lucky not to have been caught cold, just as they were in their last home game against Newcastle.

Solanke looks off the pace

Almost all of Spurs’ attacking options have at one time been presented as the answer to their problems in the final third, such is their desperation for any inspiration.

Savio was supposed to quell the early season murmurings about Spurs’ ineffectiveness in attack after his cameo against Championship side Charlton in the Carabao Cup.

There is hope also, with little evidence to suggest why, that Mohammed Kudus could be the guy to unlock Spurs inside the 18-yard-box.

The latest great saviour of Spurs’ attack, though, is Dominic Solanke. But after an ineffectual display on his first competitive start since April, De Zerbi must be left wondering where the goals are going to come from.

With last season’s top goalscorer Richarlison sat in the stands, and frozen out, there was a cruel irony to the way Solanke toiled. Clearly short of match sharpness, he could not match his team-mates’ energy.

Solanke is a sharp-shooter, a link player and a talisman on his day, but he has been dogged by injuries.

His performance was no surprise, but that is the issue. Spurs are relying on players with patchy injury records to return sharp and ready to contribute.

PA

Spurs make unwanted history

Roberto De Zerbi called for his side to play with more personality after an attritional draw with Nottingham Forest last weekend, and they responded with a performance full of intensity but yet more indecision.

Spurs flew out of the blocks, with Savio driving for the line at every opportunity, while Mateus Fernandes and Archie Gray attacked the space around the edge of the box.

There was courage and risk and running everywhere you looked. But as has been the case too often this season, Spurs procrastinated over pulling the trigger, with Savio and Fernandes both guilty of waiting too long to get shots on goal.

Spurs have never started a season with four goalless league matches in their history, but as the half-time whistle blew, they had failed to muster a shot on target for the third half in a row.

The game was beginning to drift from Spurs, just as it had against Newcastle a fortnight ago, and they nearly let it slip when Brennan Johnson blazed over in acres of space on his return to north London.

Supporters have been patient, but the smattering of boos at full-time tell a story of a bubbling undercurrent of discontent. Spurs’ scoreless streak is less an early season blip now than a concerning pattern.

Antonin Kinsky was largely good

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Second successive clean sheet provides some solace

Spurs may be missing that final touch in attack, but they are without doubt becoming a more well-rounded outfit and that solidity starts in defence.

Despite playing alongside each other at youth level, Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven have had to work on their relationship.

They struggled to communicate effectively as a pair when Newcastle came here a fortnight ago, but their progress since then has been notable, and they worked well to keep Everton at bay.

Van Hecke was the aggressor in and out of possession, combining crisp, cutting passes through the lines with punchy interceptions.

Van de Ven, meanwhile, produced a mature performance befitting of a club captain. The 25-year-old stopped danger at the source and made a couple of vital interventions.

When the dust settles on another frustrating outing, De Zerbi will at least be able to take some encouragement from the way his defence conducted themselves.