A draw on the road in the Premier League is often a result to be satisfied with, especially when it is secured with a late fightback.
For Tottenham Hotspur, coming from two goals down to earn a point against Brighton showcased a commendable spirit and resilience that manager Thomas Frank will have been pleased to see.
However, beneath the surface of that single point, the performance revealed a few persistent issues that the manager knows must be addressed for the team to consistently compete at the highest level.
While the defense looked less solid than in previous weeks, the most glaring concern remains in the final third of the pitch, specifically on the left side of the attack.
This is a position that was once the domain of a true club legend, Son Heung-min, whose pace, direct running, and clinical finishing made him one of the most feared forwards in the league.
Since his departure, the club has struggled to find a consistent and effective replacement. In the match against Brighton, Frank handed a start to young winger Wilson Odobert, who performed reasonably well without providing the game-changing threat the team requires.
Later in the match, Brennan Johnson was introduced in the same role but was unable to make a significant impact. This ongoing experimentation highlights a problem that should have been solved during the summer transfer window.
The solution within the current squad seems to point towards new signing Xavi Simons. However, his most effective and natural position is clearly through the center, operating as a classic number ten where he can influence the game with his creativity and vision.
This was evident when he came off the bench against Brighton and immediately looked more dangerous playing in a central role.
Using him on the left is a compromise that minimizes his greatest strengths, leaving a void that needs a dedicated, specialist player to fill.
Recognizing this, the club’s recruitment team is already preparing for the January transfer window, with the left-wing position identified as the absolute priority.
The primary target is understood to be Savinho, the exciting Brazilian forward currently at Manchester City. Tottenham had bids rejected for him over the summer and are prepared to return with an offer in excess of £70 million to finally secure his signature.
However, dealing with Manchester City is never straightforward, and the club is wise to have a contingency plan.
That alternative is believed to be Ademola Lookman, the former Everton attacker who is currently experiencing a difficult period at Atalanta.
Lookman would represent a more cost-effective option and offers the versatility to play both on the left and through the middle.
His Premier League experience and proven ability to score and create goals make him an attractive alternative if a deal for Savinho proves too difficult to complete.
Whatever the outcome, the message is clear: Tottenham must be proactive in January to permanently fix the most obvious weakness in their starting eleven.
Adding to the manager’s short-term challenges is an unexpected injury to another new signing, Randal Kolo Muani.
The French striker, who joined on deadline day from Paris Saint-Germain, was surprisingly absent from the squad entirely for the Brighton match. It has since been revealed that he suffered a dead leg in training ahead of the game, a frustrating setback for a player eager to make his mark.
For a player who had a near-perfect injury record throughout his time in Germany and France, this minor issue felt like an unwelcome introduction to the so-called ‘Tottenham injury curse’.
The typical recovery time for a dead leg is between five to seven days, which would make him available for the next Premier League match against Wolves.
In a worst-case scenario, the injury could keep him out for up to four to six weeks, though this is considered highly unlikely.
His return will be a welcome boost, offering Frank another quality option as he continues to piece together his most effective attacking combination. For now, the focus is on improvement and finding a way to win while planning for the reinforcements that the January window will bring.
