Tottenham on a Roll After Crystal Palace Win but Tougher Tests Loom

Tottenham have won three matches in a row, collected as many clean sheets in as many league games and unearthed a new star in Son Heung-Min. 

Victory over Crystal Palace saw Son produce a match-winning performance after which he was withdrawn to a standing ovation from the White Hart Lane faithful. 

Mauricio Pochettino's vision is unfolding slowly as his players begin to deliver. 

Throughout Spurs' 1-0 victory on Sunday, their attacking players buzzed around Palace's resolute defence in search of a breakthrough. 

There was patience but a willingness to take risks in possession as they searched for a breakthrough. 

Son was key. He was confident, skilful and aggressive as he sought a decisive moment.

Erik Lamela produced a fine display. In his last three appearances he has continued to improve and was a star against Alan Pardew's side. 

He won the ball for Son's goal and was deeply involved in most of the best attacking moves. 

Although Lamela began the counter-attack that saw Spurs score, it was Christian Eriksen who played the final pass. 

It was the Dane's first touch after being introduced as a substitute, and it earned him his second assist of the campaign. He now has as many as he had in 38 Premier League appearances last season. 

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The attacking trio of Lamela, Son and Eriksen can take pressure off the still-goalless Harry Kane. 

They have a platform on which to perform thanks to the outstanding Eric Dier. 

Dier started the season as an effective stop-gap in central midfield but has rapidly developed. 

Against Palace, Dier was an impenetrable wall. His highlights could form an instructional video for a defensive midfielder. 

He solidity is providing the back line with a level of confidence that they've never had in the Pochettino era. 

Jan Vertonghen is playing with the exuberance and freedom that marked his first year in the Premier League. 

Seven games into the season, Spurs have strung together a run of form as good as any they managed in the first year under Pochettino. 

However, the real tests are looming. 

Over 11 days, Tottenham face two of last season's top six, a tricky European trip and a difficult game in Wales. 

The testing period gets underway when Arsenal arrive on Wednesday evening for a League Cup tie. 

The north London derby is always a major fixture.

The Gunners are missing key men through injury and suspension and Arsene Wenger notoriously places little value on the competition, but there will still be great significance in this tie. 

Pochettino will select a full-strength side to face Spurs' fiercest rivals. 

Three days later the league leaders, Manchester City, will provide a yet-sterner test. 

Dier will likely be asked to start both fixtures while other key players will also be tested by fatigue. 

City have a nasty habit of thrashing Spurs so Pochettino may be forced to fight a rearguard action to avoid a similar result. 

After that comes Monaco away. 

The Ligue 1 club are a shadow of the side that threatened to shake European football to its foundations by signing a host of superstars two years ago but they remain a tough test. 

Defeat in the principality would not be a disaster and that fixture will almost certainly see significant squad rotation. Monaco only managed a draw against Anderlecht in the first round of games so Spurs enjoy a small buffer. 

If they can avoid defeat, they'll be in an excellent situation. 

The final fixture in this marathon is a trip to face Swansea City. 

Garry Monk's team have started the season in solid form. They've lost only once at home and that was to the rampant Manchester City. Swansea even managed to score two goals against Manuel Pellegrini's side. 

The trip to the Liberty Stadium has proved tricky for Spurs since Swansea's return to the top flight. Coming at the end of this awfully tough run of games, the Welsh team will fancy their chances. 

Tottenham's season appeared to be in trouble when they entered the international break without a win through four matches. 

That is now far behind them after turning their good performances into points and they stand on the precipice of a vital period. 

Should Spurs win more than they lose in this intensive period, they will pushing hard at the top positions in the league table. 

Alternatively, there is the chance to undo the good work they've done in recent weeks. 

The next two weeks will show what Spurs are made of.