Former Tottenham striker Louis Saha has shared the big mistake Spurs and Chelsea chiefs are making which cost Arsenal for a long time.
Tottenham face defining last four Premier League games after torrid season
Spurs’ campaign has unravelled in a way few would have predicted at the start of the season.
What began with some optimism has turned into a run defined by major inconsistency, missed opportunities, managerial chops and growing pressure.
Results have dipped sharply since the turn of the year, performances have lacked any control, and the mood around the club has become increasingly toxic as the weeks have gone on.
Defensively, Spurs have looked vulnerable for long stretches, conceding goals at difficult moments and struggling to hold onto leads. In attack, there have been rare flashes of quality, but nowhere near enough to mask the wider issues.
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The Italian is a fan.
Injuries to key stars definitely helped, yet the overall picture points to something deeper than just bad luck.
Instead of pushing towards the European places, the Lilywhites have spent the second half of 25/26 looking nervously over their shoulder.
The mere notion of a potential drop to the Championship for Roberto De Zerbi‘s side is something that would’ve once been deemed laughable for last season’s Europa League champions, but they’re staring it squarely in the face.
Sitting 18th, the prospect of a second tier is a very real possibility for one of the Premier League‘s supposed big six.
Striker Dominic Solanke was the latest star to return to the Tottenham treatment table, but De Zerbi could at least be boosted by James Maddison’s imminent return.
Louis Saha shares ongoing Tottenham and Chelsea mistake which Arsenal made
Speaking about Tottenham’s situation, he suggested the problems may stem partly from decisions made away from the pitch, particularly in terms of recruitment.
The Frenchman also says that Chelsea and Spurs are making the same big mistake which Arsenal made for a long time – not signing proven, elite-level players.
“Sometimes it comes from the board and the type of signings made,” Saha said.
“Strategically – it’s great to go out and sign super-talented youngsters but maybe you need to bring in players who have already established themselves as world class – it’s a similar issue that Arsenal were long criticised for – so you don’t find yourselves suffering from this lack of experience at key moments.
“We see it with Chelsea today. Chelsea have made, I don’t know, about 20 signings of talented young players, but there are key moments in a match or in a season where mistakes are made at great cost to the team.
“So if you’re doing that regularly, to the detriment of the results and players, then it might work commercially, but then you find yourself in a situation like Tottenham’s.”
That argument feels relevant when looking at Tottenham’s campaign.
There have been repeated occasions where games have slipped away due to lapses in concentration or poor decision-making. In tight contests, those small moments often make the difference, and Spurs have too often come out on the wrong side.
A stronger core of experienced stars, with Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi now key targets for the summer, may well have prevented this.
There is still time to steady the situation and finish the season more strongly, but longer-term questions remain.
If the balance of the squad is not right, the same issues could continue to surface.
Tottenham clearly have talented players, but talent alone has not been enough this season.
As they look ahead, finding the right mix between youth and proven quality may be crucial to avoiding another difficult campaign like this one.
Tottenham star faces season-ending injury as Fabrizio Romano confirms yet another blow
De Zerbi has already lost key men for the remainder of 2025/2026.
