This article was updated on 17 September 2026 to reflect Nico Gonzalez’s comments after Newcastle United’s win over Tottenham Hotspur. Roberto De Zerbi’s side remain without a win from their opening two Premier League matches. Gonzalez’s account of Newcastle’s second-half changes still explains how the visitors turned the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Latest Update: Tottenham Fall to Newcastle at Home
Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle United in the Premier League. The result leaves De Zerbi with back-to-back defeats at the start of the new season. It is a difficult opening stretch, coming soon after Roberto De Zerbi’s summer comments about building a squad capable of competing at the top of the table.
Newcastle took control after the interval at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and scored twice to take all three points. Spurs struggled to create clear chances in reply, and a home crowd expecting a response was left frustrated by a flat second-half display.
The defeat means Tottenham have now lost their opening two league fixtures of the campaign. That start puts early pressure on De Zerbi to find solutions before the next round of Premier League games.
Newcastle Capitalise on Second-Half Adjustments
Newcastle broke the deadlock shortly after the 60th minute. Anthony Elanga scored from a pass supplied by Nico Gonzalez, giving the visitors the lead they had been building towards through the second half.
Yoane Wissa then added a second goal from close range, doubling Newcastle’s advantage and ending any realistic hope of a Tottenham comeback. Gonzalez explained that Newcastle sharpened their approach at half-time rather than changing it completely.
“The idea [in the second half] was the same but we made a few adjustments and were a little more aggressive on them.”
Those small adjustments proved enough to unsettle a Tottenham defence still finding its rhythm under De Zerbi. Newcastle made the most of the space that opened up, converting two of the chances that came from their more direct approach.
How Nico Gonzalez Pinpointed Tottenham’s Weakness
Nico Gonzalez pointed to Newcastle’s decision to press higher and more aggressively after half-time as the key to breaking down Tottenham’s defence. Speaking to the BBC, he explained that a modest tactical tweak, rather than a wholesale change of plan, created the space behind Spurs that led to both goals.
Gonzalez had only joined Newcastle days before the match and admitted the short turnaround made his involvement unusual. He told the BBC:
“I have been here for four days, so it wasn’t easy for me to start, but I am really happy with the work I have done and the team has done.”
Despite the limited preparation time, Gonzalez played a direct part in the opening goal against Tottenham and summed up the experience simply.
“It was amazing.”
He also spoke about the wider development of Newcastle’s squad, framing the win as part of a longer process of improvement rather than a finished product.
“I think that this group has so much potential; we are really young and have so much space to improve and even today I felt like we kept on improving and feeling more comfortable and that is the way we need to keep going.”
For Tottenham supporters, the message from the opposition camp is clear. Newcastle identified a gap that opened up when they pushed forward with greater intent after the break. Gonzalez’s own words confirm that the change in approach, not a stroke of luck, decided the contest.
What Happens Next for Roberto De Zerbi’s Side
De Zerbi now needs answers quickly after two league defeats in a row. Supporters will be watching closely to see how he adjusts a Tottenham side that conceded twice from Newcastle’s second-half pressure. That challenge sits within the wider context of De Zerbi’s ongoing rebuild at the club this season.
Attention turns to the fixtures ahead, including the Carabao Cup lineup details Spurs used in their most recent outing. De Zerbi looks to stop the slide before the next Premier League test.
For the full account of Gonzalez’s post-match comments and Newcastle’s performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, read the original report on Nico Gonzalez’s comments from the days after the game.
