Tottenham Hotspur got 2026 off to a start with a 0-0 draw in the Premier League against Thomas Frank’s former side Brentford.
Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from the game:
Tottenham struggle for creativity in bore draw
It certainly was not a blockbuster start to the Premier League calendar year for Tottenham Hotspur, who largely picked up where they left off last year in terms of attacking output.
The performance from the Lilywhites this night was flat from start to finish, barely creating anything of note in the final third against the Bees.
According to stats, Spurs managed just eight shots in total, with only two on target and zero big chances created throughout the match, and it was no surprise as chants of “boring, boring Tottenham” echoed around the Gtech.
Two goalkeepers on the bench instead of Luca Williams-Barnett
Tottenham Hotspur are clearly short of players, given the number of injuries and suspensions they are dealing with.
Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall are all sidelined through injury, while Xavi Simons is suspended, and Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are away at AFCON.
That volume of absentees naturally leaves the squad thin, and it was reflected on the substitute bench, which included two goalkeepers.
Frank is often criticised for being overly cautious, and that decision, rather than including an in-form Luca Williams-Barnett as an attacking option, is understandably frustrating and sums up the manager’s thinking.
Guglielmo Vicario booking sums up Tottenham’s lack of urgency
Goalless draws are part of football, but when you are Tottenham away to a mid-table side, settling for a point should not be the objective.
Instead, there should be urgency and intent to push for a win, yet the opposite appeared to be the case, highlighted by Guglielmo Vicario being booked for time-wasting at 0-0.
That moment felt particularly jarring given the wider context of the league, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea all dropping points, offering Spurs a clear chance to close the gap on the top four and reduce the deficit to Chelsea to just two points.
Instead of pushing for a win, one of Tottenham’s leaders decided to waste time at 0-0 instead.
Archie Gray deployed as Tottenham’s sixth-choice number ten
It was a patched-up midfield from the outset, with the number ten role hit hardest by Tottenham’s long injury list.
In recent matches, Thomas Frank has preferred a pivot partnership of Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur, but with five other options unavailable, he was forced to turn to his sixth-choice option in the creative role.
Gray was pushed forward from his natural deeper position into a more advanced number ten role, and his display reflected the disruption, with a performance that struggled to influence proceedings.
Brennan Johnson absence points towards Crystal Palace transfer
Another notable absentee from the matchday squad was Brennan Johnson, who did not even make the bench as speculation around his future continues to intensify.
The Welsh international has attracted interest from several Premier League sides, with reports suggesting as many as seven clubs were keen this winter.
Earlier in the evening, Fabrizio Romano confirmed his trademark “here we go”, with Crystal Palace reported to have agreed on a £33.5m deal with Tottenham, with personal terms also in place.
It was further explained that Johnson was due to undergo his medical, and his absence from the squad only reinforces the sense that his Spurs departure is now imminent.