Tottenham Hotspur’s history is rich with players who defined eras, lifted trophies and left lasting marks on the club. Across decades, Spurs have been carried by gifted creators, ruthless finishers, tireless midfielders and defenders who helped shape the modern game. This ranking draws from that tradition, highlighting the individuals whose quality made them stand out in north London.

Some names are included for brilliance cut short, others for extraordinary consistency, and several for carrying Tottenham through major successes. John White remains one of the club’s great lost talents, a playmaker whose life and career were ended far too soon. Dimitar Berbatov brought elegance and control in attack, while Mousa Dembélé earned the admiration of teammates and rivals alike for a midfield presence that was almost impossible to handle.

Goals also weigh heavily in Tottenham’s story. Robbie Keane scored 122 times across two spells, Gary Lineker produced 80 goals in just 138 appearances, and Jermain Defoe struck 143 times in all competitions for Spurs. Jimmy Greaves remains the benchmark for forwards at the club, with 266 goals in 379 games, while Bobby Smith was central to one of Tottenham’s great sides and formed a formidable partnership with Greaves.

The list also reflects players who changed the way the team played. Cyril Knowles was an attack-minded full back ahead of his time, Glenn Hoddle brought vision and sophistication, and Luka Modrić became the heartbeat of midfield before eventually winning the Ballon d’Or elsewhere. Gareth Bale’s evolution from left back to world-class winger remains one of the club’s most striking transformations, while Son Heung-min added another modern chapter through goals, pace and decisive link-up play.

In goal, Hugo Lloris and Pat Jennings stand out for very different reasons, while Steve Perryman and Gary Mabbutt symbolise longevity and reliability. There are also the fierce, uncompromising qualities of Dave Mackay and Ledley King, plus the flair of David Ginola, Paul Gascoigne and Chris Waddle. Together, they form a portrait of a club whose finest players have combined talent, character and achievement in equal measure.

The opening stretch of the 2026/27 Premier League season has lasted longer than usual because of a change in the international calendar, but five games is still only enough to reveal early patterns rather than a settled table. The 20 clubs remain closely packed, and a single result can still reshape the picture quickly.

There is history behind treating this stage with caution. Last season, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United were the bottom two after five matches, while Bournemouth and Sunderland turned strong starts into European qualification. This year, the early evidence is already pointing in a few different directions.

Manchester City are the only side to have preserved a 100% record. Their 5-3 win over Sunderland, combined with Arsenal’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, sends them into the break top of the table on 15 points, matching Liverpool’s total from the same stage last season. City are also in a much stronger position than they were in 2025/26, when they sat ninth and were eight points worse off.

Brentford and Brighton have made the sharpest gains. Both are five points better off than they were at this point last season, with Brentford rising 13 places and Brighton 11. Keith Andrews’ side were among those tipped for trouble before the campaign, yet they are now being mentioned as a possible European contender. They are one of five unbeaten teams.

Leeds United have also carried their momentum forward, while Newcastle United, Everton and Aston Villa have improved on their starts from last year. Nottingham Forest have the same points total as they did after five games last season, but they are two places higher.

At the other end, Tottenham sit bottom with two points and did not score their first league goals of the season until Aston Villa were already 3-0 up. Bournemouth are still without a first league win under Marco Rose, a clear fall from the fourth place they held after five matches last season.

Fulham and Crystal Palace have also gone backwards, with both lower in the table after managerial changes.

Tottenham Hotspur’s difficult start to the season took another turn on Saturday after defeat to Aston Villa left them with an unwanted statistic attached to their name.

According to Opta, Tottenham have now lost 50 of their 141 Premier League matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since it opened in April 2019. That is the same number of league defeats Arsenal have suffered at the Emirates Stadium across 382 top-flight matches since their move from Highbury in July 2006.

The numbers underline how costly home form has become for Tottenham. Across all competitions, they have won only five of their last 36 matches on home soil, and only two of those victories have come under De Zerbi’s guidance.

That figure will not have been lost on Arsenal supporters, but any satisfaction was brief. Just hours later, the reigning Premier League champions suffered their first defeat of the campaign.

At the Amex Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion produced a dominant display to beat the Gunners 3-0, and their fans made their feelings known with the chant, “Are you Tottenham in disguise?”

Arsenal, who had begun the season in perfect form, were repeatedly opened up by Brighton’s pressing and made to look unusually vulnerable. Their defence, which had conceded only once in the Premier League before the trip to the south coast, was breached three times as the visitors endured one of their weakest performances in recent years.

What had looked like a team growing increasingly secure in the early weeks of the campaign ended with Arsenal heading back to the capital having suffered a setback that matched the frustration Tottenham were already facing.