Sávio has 13 successful dribbles in the Premier League, more than anyone else, and Tottenham are still waiting for that carry threat to turn into better results. His success rate stands at 54.1 per cent, which is a sharp return for a winger who has done most of his work in just four league appearances. The issue is not the ball progression. It is what Spurs have done with it.

Savio's dribbling numbers

His first four league games have already produced a clear pattern. Sávio managed five successful dribbles on his debut against Nottingham Forest, then four against Aston Villa and four more against Everton. That gives Tottenham a player who can beat a line on his own and do it repeatedly, without looking like a one-off threat.

The creative signs are there too. He has nine passes leading to shots and has created two big chances in his three Premier League appearances. Those are not empty carries into traffic, they are actions that move attacks into dangerous areas. The frustration is that Tottenham have not turned enough of those moves into goals or assists.

Tottenham are still wasting the edge he gives them

Spurs sit 20th in the Premier League after five matches with two points, and they have scored only two goals. They have also missed nine big chances, which is where the wider problem sits. Savio can break pressure and move defenders around, but the final action around him has been poor.

The team still have territory as well as the ball. Tottenham average 60.6 per cent possession and have won 38 corners across their opening league games. That should give them enough platform to create more than they have, yet the finishing has not caught up with the volume of possession. Roberto De Zerbi, quoted by football.london, said: "One statistic in particular shows why Tottenham will begin to spark to life sooner rather than later under Roberto De Zerbi." He was referring to the attacking numbers around the side, but the league table is not moving yet.

The break now gives Spurs three weeks before their away trip to Manchester United's? Actually no entity not allowed.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →