Tottenham Hotspur are still waiting for several key players to return to fitness, in addition to integrating their new signings. So Spurs are very much a work in progress, and anyone can see through their first three games of the 2026/27 Premier League season, which have yielded just a solitary point, that Roberto De Zerbi's side is still very disjointed.
But Tottenham and their new manager are rapidly learning things about the new look squad, and one key lesson to take away from the first three games is that Destiny Udogie, once more, makes a big difference in the squad when he is out there.
Tottenham signed Andy Robertson from Liverpool as a free agent this summer after already flirting with interest in the winter transfer window, and with Udogie still not 100 percent fit, the Scottish international actually started the first two fixtures of the campaign - both losses to Brentford and Newcastle United.
Destiny Udogie always makes Tottenham better offensively
While Robbo is not the worst backup to have around, it was clear, even for only 60 minutes against Nottingham Forest, that Udogie is the better option. Last season, Tottenham Hotspur tried to open a competition under Thomas Frank between Udogie and Djed Spence, who is now at Inter Milan, for the left back job. And while Spence can lock down anyone defensively, Udogie won that battle pretty handily because Spurs were just so much better offensively with him there.
It's become clear that Tottenham can't start Andy Robertson over Destiny Udogie in the 2026/27 season. Even though Spurs still failed to score against Nottingham Forest and did pretty much nothing as an offense, you could see a clear difference in the support Udogie provided Mathys Tel compared to Robertson, as well as superior progression and overall quality on the ball.
Robertson has great crosses, but Udogie is actually a crisper passer and auxillary midfield type. He is also more athletic, younger, and better on the overlap and even underlap for a left winger. While Robertson can still have a role to play for Tottenham, it is really no surprise that Udogie is the superior option, as the former Udinese man is both favored by Roberto De Zerbi and already showed last season that he has quality when he is fit.
Getting and keeping Udogie fit will be the big key for De Zerbi and Spurs this season, and more of the offense should open up as Udogie gets healthier and can play more than just the 60 minutes vs. Forest.
Add us as a preferred source on Google