Three things we learned from Tottenham draw as toothless Spurs fortunate to avoid Champions League defeat — Spurs’ 0-0 stalemate in France was a reminder that results alone don’t tell the full story. While the Londoners remain unbeaten in Europe, their lack of attacking spark and midfield creativity continues to worry supporters.
It was a familiar pattern: flashes of defensive resilience, superb goalkeeping, but little cutting edge. Spurs sit 15th in the Premier League and, despite five points from three Champions League games, they’ll need drastic improvement to progress from a group that still includes PSG and Borussia Dortmund.
Toothless Spurs fortunate to escape with a point
A 125-game run without a goalless draw finally ended — and few could argue Spurs deserved more. They offered minimal threat from open play, with their best chances coming from set pieces and headers by their centre-backs.
Against a Monaco side who hadn’t kept a clean sheet all season, Tottenham’s bluntness was stark. Brennan Johnson missed a late counter-attack chance, but otherwise the attack lacked pace and imagination.
Thomas Frank’s midfield pairing of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur again looked too defensive, leaving no link between defence and attack. Monaco’s energy and movement regularly carved Spurs open, and on another night, they could easily have lost by several goals.
Vicario delivers heroic display between the posts
“That Spurs left Monaco with even a point was down almost entirely to Vicario, who made eight saves in a superb performance.” — match analysis
The Italian goalkeeper produced a string of saves to keep Spurs alive, twice denying Folarin Balogun in the first half and later tipping Aleksandr Golovin’s curling strike wide.
After recent criticism from fans questioning his positioning, Guglielmo Vicario responded emphatically with authority in the box and sharp reactions throughout. His confident handling of crosses and one-on-one saves underlined why he remains Tottenham’s undisputed No.1.
Without his performance, Spurs would likely have suffered their first European defeat of the season.
Archie Gray reminds Frank of his value
Versatile youngster Archie Gray once again proved his worth, filling in at left-back amid an injury crisis that sidelined Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, and Cristian Romero.
Gray impressed early, halting Krépin Diatta with a well-timed challenge before cutting out Ansu Fati’s dangerous pass to deny Monaco a clear chance. His positioning and composure were beyond his years.
Late in the match, Gray moved back into midfield when Djed Spence was introduced, showing the adaptability that makes him indispensable. With Tottenham’s midfield balance still unresolved, there’s a growing argument that the 19-year-old deserves a run in his natural role.
Our View
In our view, Tottenham’s unbeaten run flatters to deceive. The defensive structure is improving under Frank, but the team’s inability to create from open play is becoming chronic. Without greater invention in midfield, even solid results like this one could quickly turn into defeats.
Vicario and Gray offered rare positives — one proving his reliability, the other his maturity — but attacking reinforcements or tactical tweaks are urgently needed.
Analyst Verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes Tottenham’s performances are unsustainable without change. “I think Spurs are running on luck,” he said. “Vicario saved them again, but they’re creating almost nothing from open play. Until Frank fixes that midfield balance, they’ll struggle against top opposition.”
In my view, Tottenham’s foundation is there — compact, disciplined, and brave defensively — but they need risk-takers in attack. The next two Champions League matches will show whether this team can evolve beyond resilience into something truly competitive.
Key Insights
- Tottenham held Monaco to a 0-0 draw but struggled badly in attack.
- Vicario made eight saves in a man-of-the-match performance.
- Spurs’ midfield duo Palhinha and Bentancur lacked creativity again.
- Archie Gray impressed at left-back and later in midfield.
- Spurs remain unbeaten in Europe but face tougher tests ahead.
What’s Next
Tottenham return to Premier League action against Everton on 26 October. Thomas Frank will need more invention and cutting edge if Spurs are to stay in contention for knockout qualification.
👉 Are Tottenham’s results masking deeper attacking problems under Thomas Frank?
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