Does Squad Continuity Matter in the Premier League? Tottenham’s Rebuild Examined
Tottenham are bottom of the Premier League after five games, despite ranking among the division’s best sides for possession and passing. Their early numbers show the challenge of turning a changed squad into a functioning team.
Does Squad Continuity Matter in the Premier League? Tottenham’s Rebuild Examined
Tottenham are bottom of the Premier League after five matches. They have two points, no wins, two goals scored and eight conceded.
The early table is bad enough. The underlying numbers explain why the start has been so difficult.
Tottenham’s team statistics show a side that controls the ball but has not controlled either penalty area. Spurs rank third in the league for possession (60.6%), pass accuracy (88.3%) and accurate passes per 90 (481.8). They are also third for crosses per 90, at 23.2.
Yet they rank 19th for goals scored, with only 0.4 per match.
Possession without enough threat
Tottenham are producing 1.04 expected goals per 90, the 17th-highest figure in the division. Their 14.2 shots per 90 suggest a reasonable volume, but too few of those efforts are becoming high-value opportunities.
At the other end, Spurs are allowing 1.67 expected goals against per 90. That is the central problem: the team has not created enough while giving opponents too much.
A rebuild can improve a squad’s ceiling. It does not guarantee immediate cohesion. New defensive partnerships need repetition; midfielders need to understand each other’s pressing and passing decisions; attackers need time for movements around the box to become instinctive.
Tottenham’s first five matches are not proof that the rebuild will fail. They are proof that the team has not found its balance yet.
Arsenal show the value of balance
Arsenal offer a useful early-season contrast.
They have taken 12 points from five Premier League games, scoring eight and conceding four. Their StatsLook team data shows 1.81 xG per 90 and a league-best 0.92 xGA per 90.
Arsenal have had slightly less possession than Tottenham, at 59.4%, but have been far more efficient at both ends. Their record is built on balance: better chance creation, lower-quality chances conceded and three clean sheets.
That does not make Arsenal a simple template for every team. But it shows why possession alone is not enough. The key is what a side does with the ball — and what it prevents without it.
What Tottenham need next
Five games do not define a season, but the priorities are clear.
Tottenham need to raise their chance quality above 1.04 xG per 90, reduce the 1.67 xGA they are conceding and turn their high crossing volume into more decisive chances inside the box.
The football has not been without control. The results have been without balance.
Explore Tottenham’s team statistics, squad and upcoming fixtures on StatsLook.
Sources: StatsLook — Tottenham Hotspur 2026/27 data · StatsLook — Arsenal 2026/27 data
