Report shares worrying early-season Tottenham stat

Tottenham Hotspur have been off to a shaky start in the Premier League this season, and a closer examination of their performance reveals a surprising issue; inefficiency in front of goal. According to a recent analysis by The Athletic, using data from Opta, Spurs have been one of the most wasteful teams in the league when it comes to converting their chances, despite dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities.

Under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s approach this season has been aggressive, focusing on high-tempo attacking football. Spurs have already unleashed 48 shots across their first three games, making it the second-highest count in the Premier League. But despite all this attacking effort, Spurs have only managed to bag four points, which doesn’t quite do justice to how much they’ve been bossing those matches.

One of the key statistics that highlights Tottenham’s inefficiency is their xG, or expected goals. While the team has been prolific in creating shooting opportunities, the quality of these chances has been relatively low. In their recent match against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, Spurs registered an xG of just 1.3. This figure is particularly concerning when considering that they took 20 shots during the game, with an average xG per shot of only 0.06.

Report shares worrying early-season Tottenham stat

The low xG can be attributed to the fact that many of Tottenham’s shots are coming from less dangerous areas on the pitch. In the Newcastle match alone, 11 of their 20 attempts were from outside the penalty area, where the likelihood of scoring is significantly lower. This trend suggests that while Spurs are not lacking in attacking intent, they are struggling to create high-quality chances that genuinely threaten the opposition’s goal.

On top of that, Tottenham have seen their final ball falter in crucial moments during these early games. There have been plenty of low crosses into the box that found no one on the end of them, and promising plays that just didn't result in a shot on target. While these moments don't show up in xG stats, they highlight missed chances that could have turned the matches in Spurs' favour.

What seems to be holding Tottenham back is a lack of composure and ruthlessness in the final third. The ability to convert chances into goals is obviously key, especially in a league as competitive as the Premier League. While Postecoglou’s side is creating opportunities, they need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to climb up the table and challenge for European spots. However, the coach remains optimistic and trusts that, sooner or later, their efforts will be rewarded with positive results.