After a season of evident progress, despite some admittedly frustrating setbacks, Mauricio Pochettino has a system in place and many of the right players to make a real run at the Champions League.
Last summer, Spurs addressed their most obvious weakness.
Having conceded more goals (51) than any other team in the Premier League's top eight, they signed an entire new back four, another goalkeeper and a defensive midfielder.
Unfortunately, that did not solve the problem.
Unless Spurs can keep clean sheets in their remaining three fixtures, they will at least match last season's woeful defensive record while the teams around them have tightened up.