Spurs are improving – so why do the scorelines look so bad?

Defeats to City and Arsenal exposed familiar weaknesses, but they also highlighted how much more of the ball and attacking threat Martin Ho’s side now carries.

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After two consecutive 5-2 defeats to "big four" clubs and with Chelsea and Manchester United coming up over the next few weeks, is Spurs' exciting new season beginning to crumble?

The loss away to Manchester City was bad, but for Spurs supporters inured to successive seasons of heavy away losses – and four Bunny Shaw hat-tricks in four seasons – it was far from a surprise. Conceding five to Arsenal was worse. They may not (yet) be footballing rivals in the women's game, but no Spurs supporter enjoys a big loss in the north London derby.

Signs of progress

Irrespective of how frustrating it is to watch, there were, however, signs of progress both in terms of the eye test and if we look at the numbers.

First, Spurs now have players who have the ball skills to dribble at and past opponents and threaten the goal. Most obviously Signe Gaupset, who was close to scoring after a solo marauding run against Arsenal when the game was at 4-2, and Olivia Holdt, who did score against City to equalise at 1-1. For anyone who has watched Spurs' games against City and Arsenal over the years it is novel to watch a game in which Spurs have competed for, won, and held onto the ball as effectively as they did – at least in the second halves of these games.