Tottenham were one of the Premier League’s strongest set-piece sides last season, but their fortunes from dead-ball situations have changed dramatically since their record-breaking summer transfer window.The Tottenham hierarchy essentially blindfolded themselves and trusted Roberto De Zerbi during the summer transfer window, spending close to £400m on the players he wanted in an attempt to ensure the club’s relegation troubles from last season were left behind for good.IncomingsAndrew RobertsonFreeMarcos SenesiFreeMartin DubravkaFreeJan Paul van Hecke£52mMateus Fernandes£85mSandro Tonali£100mSavinho£85mOmar Marmoush£60mTosin Adarabioyo£12mMykhailo MudrykLoanTotal spent£394mOutgoingsLuka Vuskovic£50mWill Lankshear£20mRadu Dragusin£21mAlejo Veliz£7.7mAlfie Devine£6mTynan Thompson£8mManor Solomon£7mCristian Romero£34.1mAshley Phillips£20mDjed Spence£30mKevin Danso£25mPape Matar Sarr£25.6mTotal received£254.8mTottenham’s net spend£139.2mFive weeks into the new Premier League campaign, however, what Tottenham have produced so far does not fully suggest that the club has moved on from those struggles, even though they’ve managed to replace almost half their starting team. Spurs currently sit bottom of the Premier League table in 20th place, having picked up just two points from their opening five games.There are plenty of things that have gone right and wrong for De Zerbi’s side so far. Some areas, in fact, appear to have improved significantly from last season; chance creation is one obvious example.There is, however, one major area where Spurs appear to have fallen off since their huge summer spending spree.Credit: Michael AC Braithwaite / @ac_sports_photoTottenham have gone from set-piece specialists to struggling from cornersLast season, Spurs were one of the best teams in the Premier League when it came to set pieces. Only champions Arsenal scored more and conceded fewer goals from dead-ball situations than their north London rivals, who were battling relegation for much of the campaign.Much of that credit went to set-piece coach Andreas Georgson, who transformed an area that had been a major weakness for Tottenham the season before his arrival. Spurs scored 19 of their 48 Premier League goals from set pieces last season, giving them the highest percentage in the division at 39.6 per cent.They were just as effective at the other end, too. Tottenham conceded only nine set-piece goals across the campaign, the second-lowest figure in the Premier League behind Arsenal. Those nine goals accounted for just 15.8 per cent of the 57 goals Spurs conceded, which was also the best ratio in the division (The Athletic).That makes what has happened this season particularly strange.Tottenham have taken more corners than any other Premier League side so far (38), yet not a single one has resulted in a goal (FotMob).Defensively, Spurs have conceded three set-piece goals this season. Those came in the opening three games against Brentford and Newcastle United in the Premier League, followed by Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup. There has been little to complain about since, though, as Tottenham definitely seem to have improved, as they have not conceded any from set pieces in their subsequent five matches, so we will not be getting into that any further.Free kicks have at least provided one positive moment. One of Tottenham’s two goals all season, both of which came in the 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend, arrived from a free kick when Jan Paul van Hecke headed home from Andy Robertson’s cross deep into stoppage time.Tottenham are missing some of the qualities that made them so dangerousThere are essentially two parts to an attacking set piece. The first is the delivery; the second is what happens once the ball enters the box – Tottenham’s ability to attack it and win the aerial battle.So far this season, Spurs have struggled in both areas.The quality of delivery should not necessarily be a concern as Tottenham have several players capable of putting dangerous balls into the box, including Mathys Tel, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus and Pedro Porro. Then there are also the summer arrivals: Andy Robertson, Savio, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.On paper, Tottenham have very much improved their set-piece options in this area compared to last season, but the problem is that the same quality has not appeared on the pitch.Tel was very good from corners last season, but his deliveries have not carried the same threat this time around, despite him taking plenty of them. The same can be said of some of Tottenham’s other regular takers – Kudus and Maddison.Perhaps more surprisingly, some of the summer arrivals have barely been given an opportunity to take corners. Tonali has a proven ability from dead-ball situations, and Robertson has spent years delivering dangerous crosses, yet neither has been given a sustained run as one of Tottenham’s main corner takers.Considering Tel’s corners have not produced the same danger they did last season, it is fair to wonder why De Zerbi has not given players such as Tonali and Robertson more opportunities in that department.Of course, De Zerbi may know something we do not. Set pieces are also about repetition and familiarity, as the players need to understand exactly where the ball is going and when they should attack it. Perhaps that is why the manager has stuck with the same options.The other side of the equation is the personnel attacking those deliveries, and that is where Tottenham may genuinely have lost something during the summer.Of the 10 players Spurs signed during the transfer window, none arrived with a particularly good reputation for their aerial ability, including Tosin Adarabioyo and Jan Paul van Hecke, despite the two centre-backs being listed at 6ft 5in (195cm) and 6ft 2in (188cm) respectively.Tottenham have lost several players who were very useful in that department; for example, Cristian Romero, Joao Palhinha and Kevin Danso all departed during the summer, while Richarlison remains unavailable for Premier League selection after being left out of De Zerbi’s official squad.Tottenham have not suddenly become a small team, though, as they still have the physical profile required to be dominant in the air.Spurs have the 10th-tallest squad in the Premier League, with an average height of 184.27cm. For context, that is just below Arsenal and Manchester City, who sit at eighth and ninth, respectively, and both clubs have been decent from set pieces this season.The issue, then, may not simply be about height. Tottenham need to be more willing to commit players into those aerial battles and attack the ball aggressively when the opportunity presents itself. Being slightly smaller than an opponent does not automatically mean losing the duel.As De Zerbi himself put it: “You have not to lose all duels because you are smaller than the opponent.”READ MORE: Shock James Maddison and Kulusevski fact will blow Tottenham fans’ minds The post How Tottenham’s £400m summer spree may have cost them a huge 40% goal threat appeared first on Spurs Web.