Spurs Takeaways from Tottenham Hotspur Draw at Chelsea

Takeaway 2: Spurs are Good Defensively

The bend but not break approach against Manchester City worked to perfection as Spurs limited big chances and caught City on the counter for the 2-0 win. While the counter opportunities were not quite as clinical against Chelsea for Tottenham, the defense was. After shipping some goals early in the season, Tottenham have become a good defensive unit.

With only 9 goals against after 10 matches, Tottenham have the stingiest defense in the Premier League. Spurs have held a clean sheet in 3 straight matches – which included Manchester City and Chelsea – and in 4 of the last 5 matches after not keeping a shutout once in the first 5 matches. The lapses in concentration particularly on the set-pieces, which were really hurting Spurs earlier in the season, have been corrected.

Furthermore, as Tottenham have rotated at fullback positions and had to cover for an injured Toby Alderweireld, the team has hardly missed a beat defensively. Serge Aurier is arguably having his best season as a Spur and is by no means handing his position to Matt Doherty. Sergio Reguilón and Ben Davies provide sufficient cover and flexibility on the left. Reguilón and Bergwijn essentially held three Chelsea players in check on Sunday as James, Ziyech, and Kovacic all worked the left of the Tottenham defense, but did not have much success.

Bergwijn’s efforts the last two weeks really highlight the overall team defense Tottenham is employing to good effect. Spurs offense is good enough they are going to score more often than not, if the defense can get good enough – like they were Sunday – to have a clean sheet more often than not, Tottenham might be going places this season.