Tottenham's Most Impressive Wins so Far This Season
Tottenham have played 47 matches so far this season. Under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, the team has gradually evolved into a very impressive unit with a core of exciting young players.
The season began in the perfect way with a pair of London derby victories, but then reality—and the Europa League—set in.
Pochettino has worked hard to determine which members of his squad were capable of his particular brand of football and been rewarded with a successful first campaign.
Let's examine some of the more impressive Tottenham wins under the Argentinian boss.
The Perfect Start
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On the opening day of the Premier League season, Spurs went to Upton Park and broke West Ham's hearts with a last-minute victory from debutant Eric Dier.
Harry Kane, a late substitute, laid on the goal that secured a first victory against the Hammers in four attempts.
When Kyle Naughton was sent off, having conceded a penalty, it seemed that Pochettino's first day on the job would end in disappointment, but Mark Noble pushed his penalty wide of Hugo Lloris' post.
Pochettino made the surprise move to persist with three at the back, shifting Dier to right-back, and Spurs seemed to improve despite West Ham's numerical advantage.
Late in the game, Dier surged forward and found himself with the chance to win the match. Showing poise beyond his years and experience, he did just that.
Eight days later, Tottenham welcomed QPR to White Hart Lane and gave them a footballing education. Nacer Chadli scored twice in a 4-0 romp.
Chadli's emergence under Pochettino has been remarkable, given his relatively disappointing displays last season.
After hammering Rangers, Spurs were flying high.
Pochettino's team had shown two different—and equally impressive—sides of themselves and looked like a side on the rise.
The next match, though, a home defeat to Liverpool, showed there was plenty left to do to really compete with the top sides.
Much-Needed Relief
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In late September, Spurs were under real pressure.
Having rounded out a month-long winless streak with a 1-0 home defeat to West Brom, Pochettino's management was coming under significant scrutiny. Boos from the fans only added to a noxious atmosphere at the Lane.
When Jorge Grant gave Nottingham Forest the lead after an hour of a League Cup tie, Pochettino's position at Spurs seemed to be genuinely under threat.
A first Tottenham appearance since 2012 for Ryan Mason was the catalyst for the first of many comeback victories this season. Mason blasted his shot past the Forest keeper seven minutes after entering as a substitute, and Spurs never looked back.
Mason hit that equaliser with all the frustration of a player perpetually sidelined by injury.
Now Mason is a key part of Tottenham's team, but then many casual observers had likely never even heard of him.
Spurs have made comeback victories something of a habit this season, but it all began with Mason's thumping equaliser against Nottingham Forest.
That win eased the pressure on Pochettino and, three days later, Spurs finally ended a ruinous run of form against the top sides with a 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates.
The Comeback Kings
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Tottenham have come back from losing positions to win eight times this season.
Most notably, they did so against both Arsenal and Chelsea.
That is a remarkable achievement for a club that has been historically considered to have something of a soft underbelly.
The new manager's approach to fitness and preparation has much to do with this run of resilience, but his insistence on reshaping the club's attitude is also at play.
Pochettino is a winner, and he expects the same of his players.
A tough task-master, the Argentinian has moulded his young team in his own image, and their tenacity and refusal to give up is a testament to that.
Pochettino may have failed to collect silverware in his first attempt, but he is building a team that will refuse to accept defeat.
Eight times is too many to simply be a coincidence. Pochettino is changing the culture of Tottenham Hotspur for the better.
Derby Delights
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Arsenal and Chelsea are two of England's top sides.
Beating both within a month is, in itself, an achievement.
Tottenham did not just that, but they were comfortably the better side in both matches.
When Spurs thrashed Chelsea 5-3, the footballing world took note. The performances of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli earned the headlines, but Spurs' midfield outplayed Chelsea on the day.
Unlike the recent cup final, Nemanja Matic was not suspended. Chelsea fielded their strongest lineup, and Nabil Bentaleb and Moussa Dembele (replacing the injured Ryan Mason after 14 minutes) dominated them.
Chelsea were put off by the speed at which Spurs moved the ball forward and were unable to cut off the supply lines to Tottenham's attack. Jose Mourinho learned valuable lessons in this fixture that he put to use at Wembley, but Spurs were easily the better side at the Lane.
The visit of Arsenal, a team flying high in the Premier League form table, was expected to be tough.
In truth, though, it wasn't.
Bentaleb and Mason so thoroughly dominated the midfield that victory felt somewhat inevitable. Even when Mesut Ozil gave the visitors the lead, Spurs remained calm and turned up the heat on the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger's men fell so deep that Spurs were able to attack with nine players swarming around.
When Harry Kane's equaliser came, it seemed no less than Spurs deserved.
His winning header, though it seemed to hang in the air for eternity, sealed a victory in perhaps Spurs' best performance under Pochettino.
Spurs have improved dramatically under Pochettino. These two results were impossibilities under Tim Sherwood and seemingly highly unlikely for the Gareth Bale-less Andre Villas-Boas side.
Pochettino has made Spurs good again. It's simple, but the progress was so clear in these, the most impressive victories of his short tenure as Tottenham boss.
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