Four games into the Premier League season, Tottenham Hotspur and Coventry City remain the only teams yet to score in the league, despite Spurs investing £320m in attacking talent. New manager Roberto De Zerbi is implementing his tactical philosophy, which relies on enticing opposition pressure before exploiting spaces behind pressing players through direct passing or powerful carrying. His sides often use a 2-3-2-3 shape in possession, anchored by holding midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, with rotation between wingers, full-backs, and central midfielders maintaining structural integrity.

This approach worked effectively at Marseille from 2024 to 2026, where De Zerbi's teams averaged 2.3 goals per game. Against Everton, Spurs created space between the lines through central progression, but execution requires players comfortable receiving under pressure. Sandro Tonali has rotated with Archie Gray to better suit his preference for operating in larger spaces facing forward.

While glimpses of the system's potential are visible, turning build-up play into goals demands multiple components aligning simultaneously. De Zerbi's adaptation to the current Premier League continues, but the underlying tactical framework suggests the scoring drought may not persist much longer.