We are witnessing a significant mood shift at Spurs, reflected inside this magnificent arena since the psychological barrier of the vital first league win was crossed against Coventry.
Head coach Roberto de Zerbi told BBC Sport’s Match Of The Day: “The passion we showed – we didn’t lose the focus, the concentration. We made an incredible reaction when we lost the ball.
“We could have scored more goals, but we created many chances. We have to be more nasty, especially in the last third of the match, especially in the finishing. I’m happy because I knew before this would be a tough game.”
De Zerbi pleaded for patience for his big summer acquisitions, with midfield duo Sandro Tonali, a £100m arrival from Newcastle United, and £85m signing Mateus Fernandes, who came from West Ham United, both starting slowly.
While any optimistic verdict on Spurs in recent times always comes with natural caution attached, the expensive pair are now showing signs of why De Zerbi was prepared to pay such prices to make them part of his transformation.
Tonali started to come to life against Coventry City and here he was pivotal with his running power, physicality and creation. Fernandes was lively throughout, always looking for the opening, the pass that could make a difference.
And once again, to the usual rapturous reception after his long injury absence, Dejan Kulusevski delivered a lively cameo as substitute, a real threat as he also forced a fine save from Palace keeper Dean Henderson.
There is a sense that something is finally stirring at Spurs, that the £300m spent in the summer might just reap a reward – as you would expect for such a lavish outlay.
The statistics confirmed Spurs’ superiority, although Crystal Palace battled gamely with their numerical disadvantage, never looking like a side who had given up on head coach Pierre Sage, although he will now come under increasing scrutiny as they lie in the bottom three with only two wins from nine league games.
Spurs had 34 shots and faced just two, the biggest shot difference (32) they have had against any opponent since such Opta records began in 2003-04.
It is also the biggest for any side since Liverpool had 36 shots against four from Wolverhampton Wanderers in May 2024.
Spurs also had 79.4% possession, their second highest on record in a Premier League match after they had 80.2% against Newcastle United in August 2019.
