Kayode seals emphatic Brentford victory in wake-up call for sorry Spurs
Brentford secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League season opener. Despite significant summer spending, Tottenham's performance was criticized for being disorganized and lacking tactical cohesion.
Why it matters
The result highlights the challenges of integrating high-priced new signings and raises early questions about Tottenham's competitiveness under manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Igor Thiago (left) congratulates Michael Kayode after scoring Brentford’s third goal. Igor Thiago (left) congratulates Michael Kayode after scoring Brentford’s third goal. Premier League Kayode seals emphatic Brentford victory in wake-up call for sorry Spurs Jacob Steinberg at the Gtech Community Stadium Sat 22 Aug 2026 14.40 EDT Last modified on Sat 22 Aug 2026 19.12 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google Continue down this road and it will not be long before the chants of “Lincoln away” start up again. This was the start of Tottenham’s brave new era but there was no sign of any change. The old flaws were still there in a cowardly display – with and without the ball – and after a summer of extravagant spending it will alarm Roberto De Zerbi that his side opened the season looking like relegation candidates rather than contenders for European football.
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