Tottenham's damning Arsenal comparison shows how bad things have got for Spurs and Roberto De Zerbi

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Tottenham Hotspur have endured a miserable start to the 2026-27 season, and things got worse in their final game before the extended international break.

Spurs found themselves 3-0 down at home to Aston Villa on Saturday, prompting thousands of fans to head for the exits following goals from Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson, and Emi Buendia. Although they got two late goals, ending their long wait to score in the top flight, they still ended up on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.

The result means Roberto De Zerbi's team will be in the relegation zone when the Premier League returns on October 10. Spurs will face Manchester United at Old Trafford that weekend.

Perhaps returning to league action away from home will not be a bad thing for De Zerbi and his players given their remarkably poor record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

MORE:Latest Premier League news and standings show Spurs already struggling

Tottenham's damning Arsenal comparison shows how bad things have got

Spurs' loss to Aston Villa was their 50th defeat in 141 league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which staged its first game in April 2019.

That means more than 35 per cent of their league games at their impressive home venue have ended in defeat. What's more, they have lost 22 home league fixtures since the start of 2024-25, having lost only 23 in all four of the previous seasons combined.

Even more damning is the comparison with arch-rivals Arsenal. The Gunners have lost the same number of league games at their home, Emirates Stadium, but in 382 total matches over the course of 20 years.

Arsenal very much boast the north London bragging rights at the moment, and this further highlights the disparity between these two teams right now. It's horrible reading for the Spurs faithful.

Spurs' worst ever start to a Premier League season

While Gallagher and Van Hecke finally ended Spurs' wait for league goals, they could not prevent this result setting another unwanted record.

Two points and a goal difference of -6 is the club's worst start to a Premier League season after five matches, surpassing 2008/09, when they managed two points and a goal difference of -3.

That season saw Juande Ramos sacked as manager in October after winning just two of 12 games in all competitions. Harry Redknapp took over and steered them to an eighth-place finish in the top flight, and the final of the EFL Cup, which they lost to Manchester United.

Roberto De Zerbi reaction to Aston Villa defeat: 'We are too fragile'

De Zerbi said after the match that Spurs were "too fragile" after falling behind against the run of play while Micky van de Ven was being treated for a facial injury, having tested Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki in the first half.

"I think we could score in the first half many, many times," he said to TNT Sports. "We concede a goal with 10 players, but we had to stay more focused to defend that situation in extra time in the first half. In the second half, we concede a goal from a goal-kick directly. Before then, we score and it's offside. The third goal is a great goal of Buendia.

"What you want I have to say? We played well in the first half. We didn't score. But [we are] too fragile.

"If [we] don't score, it's my responsibility. I take my responsibility. Football is like life: you are stronger, or you lose.

"I can't speak [about] before my time [at the club], I can just speak about my work. We have to improve the quality of the play, but to be stronger, wiser. The game is not 90 minutes of ball possession, 90 minutes in the last third. There are situations when we have to stay closer, when we have to stay stronger, we have to defend better, ball on ball, and we didn't, or we didn't in the right way."

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