Tottenham Hotspur with best start ever, how it compares to 2016/17

While that prior team could score, putting four past Stoke, this current iteration of Tottenham is looking for more than 1 goal.

2022/23 Tottenham team has potential on offense to be great

That 2016/17 team scored some goals, getting 12 in those first seven matches. However, compared to the 18 in seven games the current team has produced, Pochettino’s attack seems somewhat pedestrian. At 1.7 goals per game, Spurs relied on that stellar defense to carry the day, especially in the cozy confines of White Hart Lane.

This season at almost 2.6 goals per contest, Spurs are scoring at a different level. With at least two goals in five of the seven matches this season, Tottenham has more breathing room for some defensive mistakes.

In 16/17, six players – and own-goal – had scored those 12 goals, led by Heung-min Son’s four. This season, seven players – and two own-goals – account for the 18 Spurs goals, with Harry Kane leading the way with six.

This season four Spurs have already scored at least twice – Dier, Hojbjerg, Kane, and Son – whereas three had in 2016/17 – Kane, Son, and Dele. With more players scoring more goals than that previous side, it is safe to say Spurs have a better attack than they did in 2016/17 when Kane, Son, and Vincent Jansson were all leading the line.

Spurs’ schedule has been a bit easier this season

Through seven matches in 2016/17, Tottenham had played two top six sides, Liverpool and Manchester City, drawing and winning in the two games. This season through seven games, Spurs have only played one of the top six sides, Chelsea, which was a draw. Tottenham was supposed to have played Manchester City by now, but the death of the Queen and the subsequent suspension of football means Spurs will have to be rescheduled with the Cityzens.

The current squad is better at home than previous

Regardless of who they have or have not played, the current team has not dropped any points at home. While we know that last season at the Lane was one where Spurs never lost, they had already drawn a game by this point in the 2016/17 season, whereas Spurs are 4-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this year.

After struggling to create a home-field advantage since moving from the Lane, the perfect start at home is important. Although the current team has just one win next to two draws on the road, and the 2016/17 team had two wins and a draw, the sample size is too small to draw any real conclusions.