Tottenham Only Undefeated Side in England

Despite being off for the weekend due to the international break, Tottenham managed to become the only side not to be beaten in all of English professional football.

Tottenham’s unique distinction came as England’s lower two leagues played on despite the break. Current League Two runners-up Carlisle United ended their undefeated run with a 2-0 loss to Newport County on Saturday morning.

That result means that, of 92 teams playing professionally in England, Tottenham are the sole remaining team with a goose egg in the losses column.

It’s easy to forget that Tottenham are pulling off something fairly remarkable. After 11 games played in the Premier League, Tottenham have won five and drawn six.

It’s that latter tally that sours whatever pride Spurs might feel for going undefeated for so long to start the season. Those draws represent dropped points that are currently keeping Tottenham out of the title race.

Liverpool currently lead the league with 26 points after their commanding 6-1 win over Watford last Sunday. Spurs, meanwhile, were happy to salvage a 1-1 draw against in-form rivals Arsenal. That result took them to 21 points, three points out of the top four Champions League places.

Add in the fact that Tottenham have struggled through four matches in the Champions League, and this isn’t looking like a season of growth — at least not on the surface.

More from Tottenham News

Dissecting why exactly Spurs haven’t converted any of those draws into wins is a matter of much debate.

Injuries have played a roles. Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Hugo Lloris have all missed multiple games so far. Last season those four players represented Tottenham’s indomitable spine, with only three matches missed between them.

Suspensions, too, have provided headaches for Mauricio Pochettino. Moussa Sissoko and Mousa Dembélé both served time in the stands for offenses committed on the pitch.

Even in those rare moments when Spurs fielded their strongest XI, many of last season’s most reliable players have looked rusty or worn down. Dele Alli’s scored three goals so far this campaign, but for the most part looks far off the standards he set himself in his debut season. Kane and Christian Eriksen have also failed to reach their full potential when on the pitch.

All of which should serve as a surprising comfort. These are not failures of the system, or the result of Tottenham losing their best players to the transfer window. This is not the 2013/14 season, where Tottenham struggled to rebuild after the departure of Gareth Bale.

Rather, this is a run of bad luck — and such things have a way of evening out in football.

Injuries will heal, suspensions get served. There’s no reason to think that this season’s Harry Kane is somehow different than the Harry Kane who proved himself to be one of Europe’s best goalscorers over the previous two seasons. The same is true of Eriksen — we all know that the Dane will come good. Even Alli has found moments to shine through his struggles.

Perhaps most importantly: Spurs have the best defense in the Premier League through 11 games, with only six goals conceded — only one of which was in open play.

Next: Tottenham's Christian Eriksen Explains Decision to Snub Chelsea

Imagine if only one thing goes right in Tottenham’s attack. Say, Kane builds on the goal he scored against Arsenal and becomes his old self again. Or if Heung-min Son rediscovers his early season form. Or if Eriksen starts scoring as we know he can. Backed by a sturdy defense, suddenly these draws do start to become wins.

With the season really launching into a higher gear after this international break, Pochettino and all of Spurs will be hoping something gives soon. There’s still plenty of time to get back into the title conversation, and even to make it out of the Champions League group stage. Tottenham’s luck simply needs to even out.

Home/Tottenham News