Five things we learned from Tottenham’s defeat to Bournemouth as Xavi Simons watches on

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Tottenham Hotspur missed the chance to climb to the top of the Premier League table after slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth.

Let us take a look at the five things we learned from the match.

Still work to do in the transfer market

A defeat is never an easy pill to swallow, and for some time now, at least in the last two Premier League games, Spurs had avoided that outcome.

However, Bournemouth brought Tottenham fans crashing back down to earth by handing Thomas Frank his first defeat of the league campaign, and the timing of it could yet prove useful, given there are still a few days left before the transfer window closes.

If Daniel Levy and the hierarchy were in any doubt about the need for further investment, this was the clearest reminder yet that the squad is short in several key areas.

Dominic Solanke has now picked up an injury, and it remains to be seen how long he will be out. A central defender continues to be linked with Tottenham, as reports suggest a bid has gone in for Manuel Akanji.

Meanwhile, quality out wide is also a pressing concern, with Brennan Johnson failing to inspire confidence on the left today. The message could not be clearer – over to you, Johan Lange, Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici.

Xavi Simons greets the crowd, and boy do Tottenham need him

Tottenham Hotspur have been riding their luck in the opening two games without a natural creative number ten, and makeshift solutions have done just enough to mask the problem.

Today, though, Spurs simply lacked invention, failing to register a single shot on goal in the first half and only testing the Bournemouth goalkeeper late in the second through Lucas Bergvall, which underlined just how blunt their attack was without someone pulling the strings in midfield.

The silver lining for Tottenham is that Xavi Simons is now officially a Spurs player and was watching on from the stands, following his unveiling at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Thomas Frank, undoubtedly, would have been hoping he could call on the Dutchman at least from the bench, after that performance laid bare just how desperate this team has been for a player of his mould.

The hope now will be that he can hit the ground running in a Tottenham shirt.

Spurs struggled to create chances from out wide

Of course, Tottenham were second best for large periods of the game, and with no number ten linking play through the middle, the burden fell heavily on the wingers, who were simply not up to scratch.

Mohammed Kudus was often used as the outlet ball, with Spurs looking to his ball-carrying ability to relieve pressure, but even he struggled to create much as Bournemouth doubled up on him and cut off his space.

On the opposite flank, Brennan Johnson was way off the pace, his final ball lacking quality and only adding to the frustration of a disjointed attack.

Whether this comes down to tactical issues or a lack of quality personnel, Spurs clearly need at least one more wide forward capable of beating his man and providing a genuine threat.

Destiny Udogie returns from injury with a bright cameo

It was not all doom and gloom for Tottenham, as Destiny Udogie’s return to action was one of the brighter moments of the afternoon.

The full-back had not featured in a competitive game since the Europa League final, but he made his comeback here, replacing Pedro Porro as Djed Spence shifted across to the right.

Udogie looked solid, showed very little rust, and even came close to grabbing an equaliser with a late header that flashed wide.

With the Champions League on the horizon after the international break, having Udogie back to full fitness will be a welcome boost for Frank and his staff.

Tottenham’s international break curse continues

Spurs have made a habit of beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City year after year, which has now become a meme, and so is their International break run.

When it comes to fixtures before an international break, the curse continues to hang over Spurs, who have not won a game before the international break since October 2023.

Once again today, they fell flat, looking nothing like the energetic side that impressed so much in their opening two matches.

It means that going into the break, the sting of this defeat will linger, but with the transfer window still open, a few smart additions could quickly change the mood amongst supporters.