Tottenham’s dream start to this season ended with a 0-3 loss to Chelsea, during which they played with only nine players. The game concluded with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s attempt to block David Raya in the Arsenal box as they sought an equalizer.

Although Ange Postecoglou’s team managed to avoid total humiliation after a nightmare start, the emotional late fightback doesn’t overshadow the harsh reality of their performance. While they avoided the total humiliation, the reality is that heroic losses do not win titles or trophies.

In fact, the team’s hopes of Champions League football next season appear to be finished. Ange Postecoglou made tactical adjustments by picking Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in central midfield but the team struggled throughout the game.

Despite leading the Premier League earlier in the season, they now trail fourth-placed Aston Villa by seven points. Former Rangers midfielder Mikel Arteta has taken over four years to build Arsenal into consistent Premier League contenders, suggesting that Postecoglou might need the same amount of time to achieve similar results.

Spurs received a 64th-minute gift from the Gunners’ goalkeeper, leading to a more spirited performance from the team. The game, which ended with Tottenham conceding seven goals in 98 Premier League minutes, was marked by a lack of finesse and control from the hosts.

Despite a strong performance from some players, the team is not yet ready to challenge at the top. Overall, the game was a reality check for Tottenham, highlighting the work needed to compete at the highest level.