Four games into the Premier League season, Tottenham Hotspur and Coventry City are the only teams yet to score.
For Spurs, that statistic is particularly concerning. The club have invested £320m in new talent, much of it on attacking reinforcements, yet Roberto De Zerbi's side are still searching for their first league goal.
So why are Tottenham struggling, and what needs to change?
The Premier League has evolved since De Zerbi left Brighton in 2024, but the Italian has retained the core principles that define his football while adapting his approach.
His teams deliberately invite pressure, often slowing possession and playing backwards to encourage opponents to push forward.
Once the press arrives, De Zerbi wants his players to accelerate, exploiting the space left behind through vertical passes and powerful carries.
"The stronger the pressure of the opponent, the more vertical [our] action becomes," De Zerbi explained during a coaching seminar in 2020. "[The fewer opponents behind], the easier it becomes to go and score."
Tottenham have already created situations this season where their forwards are attacking larger spaces against fewer defenders.
The problem has been turning those promising situations into goals.
Spurs' structure in possession can initially appear difficult to decipher, but it regularly resembles a 2-3-2-3 formation.
Rodrigo Bentancur generally operates as the holding midfielder ahead of the two centre-backs, with that trio providing a relatively stable foundation.
Further forward, there is significantly more movement.
Wingers, full-backs and central midfielders rotate positions, with players expected to maintain Tottenham's overall structure by filling spaces vacated by team-mates.
The principles are similar to those De Zerbi successfully implemented at Marseille between 2024 and 2026, when his side averaged 2.3 goals per game.
Tottenham are yet to reproduce that attacking output, but there have been signs that the system is beginning to take shape.
One of De Zerbi's key principles is encouraging his players to build through central areas.
Doing so can produce two major benefits.
When Tottenham's centre-backs have possession, opposing midfielders and forwards are tempted to press higher, potentially creating space between the lines for Spurs' attacking midfielders.
At the same time, drawing opponents centrally can open space out wide for Tottenham's wingers to attack.
Executing those combinations requires players who are comfortable receiving possession under pressure.
Recognising that Sandro Tonali is more effective facing forward in larger spaces, De Zerbi has rotated him with Archie Gray, who starts from right-back.
Despite operating outside his natural position, the 20-year-old has shown an ability to receive possession in tight areas and understand the tactical demands placed on him.
James Maddison's return from a shoulder injury could also prove important. The midfielder returned for Tuesday's Carabao Cup meeting with Liverpool and possesses the technical qualities required to operate between the lines.
However, Tottenham's players are also having to adjust to a significant tactical change.
Under Thomas Frank at the beginning of last season, Spurs primarily progressed possession down the flanks, largely avoiding central areas because of the risks associated with losing the ball there.
De Zerbi is asking for almost the opposite.
Building through congested central areas requires confidence, precision and bravery, and those habits may take time to develop.
Tottenham have repeatedly managed to break beyond opposition midfields after drawing teams into pressing situations.
What happens next has been the bigger problem.
Successful attacks depend on three elements: recognising the correct pass, receiving the necessary movement from team-mates and possessing the technical quality to execute the delivery.
So far, Tottenham have too often failed to recognise or attempt through balls behind opposing defences.
Omar Marmoush has regularly made promising attacking runs, but the pass has not always followed.
Gray has attempted deliveries down the flank, although Spurs have been less willing to attempt similar passes through central areas.
Pedro Porro could help change that.
The defender, renowned for his creativity, operated in a more central position for Spain during their World Cup triumph this summer. His willingness to play progressive passes could make him particularly valuable within De Zerbi's system.
Passing is only part of the equation. Tottenham's movement must also improve.
At Marseille, De Zerbi regularly used diagonal runs from wide attackers positioned on the opposition's defensive line, combined with midfielders willing to play direct vertical passes.
Igor Paixao's goal in Marseille's 2-2 draw with Toulouse last season demonstrated the effectiveness of that approach, combining intelligent movement with decisive passing.
There were similar signs from Tottenham against Liverpool.
Destiny Udogie repeatedly found space on the left, with his physicality and timing allowing him to exploit gaps as the match became stretched.
Andy Robertson has performed well for Spurs this season, but Udogie's ability to attack open space helped Tottenham reach dangerous crossing positions against a disorganised Liverpool defence.
When an attacking team suddenly increases the tempo, defenders naturally retreat towards their own goal.
That often creates space around the edge of the penalty area for midfielders arriving late or forwards dropping away from the defensive line.
Marmoush has attempted to exploit those areas but has not consistently received the ball.
Tottenham's problems in wide areas have also contributed.
Savio, a left-footed right winger, is comfortable reaching the byline but can find it more difficult to deliver cut-backs on his weaker foot. On the opposite side, left-footed players Udogie and Robertson have created clearer opportunities through crosses.
At Marseille, De Zerbi benefited from a right winger and right-back comfortable delivering cut-backs with their stronger right foot.
Those deliveries were complemented by the intelligent penalty-area movement of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who excelled at finding space inside the box.
Tottenham are still developing those combinations.
There have been enough promising attacking situations to suggest De Zerbi's ideas are beginning to emerge, but several small details remain unresolved.
The system will also ultimately depend on individual quality. De Zerbi's Marseille side possessed excellent finishers capable of exploiting the spaces his tactics created.
For Tottenham, improving the timing of runs, recognising vertical passing opportunities and producing better final deliveries could make a significant difference.
The foundations are beginning to appear. Spurs now need to turn them into goals.
