The international break may have come at a perfect time for Tottenham Hotspur, subsequently handing Thomas Frank an extended period to work closely with his first-team squad.
After winning both of the first two Premier League games of 2025/26, the Lilywhites fell to a 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth on home soil in the game before the break.
Such a showing was an uncharacteristic one from the Dane’s side, only registering five shots in 90 minutes, one of which, from Lucas Bergvall, was on target.
However, this evening’s clash against London rivals West Ham United hands the side the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways, facing a side who have already conceded eight times in England’s top-flight in their first three outings.
Such a fixture has proved fruitful for Spurs over the last couple of years, with Frank hoping that he’s able to replicate such feats in the clash at the London Stadium.
Spurs’ recent history against West Ham United
In the last eight meetings with West Ham across all competitions, dating back to December 2021, Spurs have only tasted defeat once – often getting the upper hand over the Hammers.
The last clash took place in May, with the Lilywhites only able to secure a 1-1 draw with Graham Potter’s men, with Wilson Odobert’s goal cancelled out by Jarrod Bowen.
However, the previous outing back in October saw the side dominate under Ange Postecoglou’s guidance, coming out of the clash as 4-1 victors in North London.
Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Heung-min Son and an own goal from Alphonse Areola secured all three points and further strengthened the Lilywhites’ dominance in such a fixture.
There’s no denying that given the contrasting form of the two clubs so far this campaign, Frank’s men will enter the clash as favourites, which could see one player have a point to prove.
The Spurs star who would be perfect for Kudus against West Ham
Mohammed Kudus joined Spurs this summer in a £55m transfer, arriving at the club from today’s opposition, West Ham, something which will no doubt add further spice to the local derby.
The Ghanaian was seen as one of the Hammers’ star men, previously scoring against the Lilywhites in such a clash, but thankfully for the club’s supporters, he will be on their side this time around.
After leaving the Irons in the summer window, the 25-year-old will certainly have a point to prove – hopefully finding the net for the first time after his big-money transfer.
He’s often been the provider for others this season, as seen by his tally of two assists in three outings, but he could be about to be bolstered in his efforts to open his account in North London.
Xavi Simons completed a late move to join Spurs in the transfer window, joining the club in a £52m transfer from German side RB Leipzig to bolster the attacking midfield department.
The Dutchman has undoubtedly arrived with high hopes, given the transfer fee, but also his numbers from last season – which saw him register 19 combined goals and assists in 2024/25.
His underlying stats are just as impressive, with many of which aiding Kudus in his chances of haunting his former employers at the London Stadium this evening.
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Xavi Simons – stats in the Bundesliga (2024/25) |
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|---|---|
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Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
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Games played |
25 |
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Goals & assists |
17 |
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Pass accuracy |
83% |
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Chances created |
2.2 |
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Successful dribbles |
1.4 |
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Tackles won |
75% |
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Duels won |
5.7 |
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Stats via FotMob |
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Simons, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Rafael van der Vaart, managed to notch a total of 2.2 chances created per 90, along with 1.4 successful dribbles per 90.
Such numbers are impressive alone, showcasing his ability to transition the ball into dangerous areas, but he’s also managed to put an end product to such mazy runs.
He completed 83% of the passes he attempted, with 4.8 of which per 90 played into the final third – numbers which could provide Kudus with the ammunition needed to threaten the opposition.
The prospect of the pair linking up together is one for the fanbase to get excited about, with such a duo having the tools to push Frank’s men closer to victory against the Hammers.
If the Ghanaian is to open his account and inflict more pain on Potter’s side, it’s crucial that the Dane hands a debut to Simons, with the Dutchman having all the tools to create endless opportunities in attacking areas.
