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Tottenham Hotspur began the post-Thomas Frank era with a defeat, as Arsenal put four past Spurs to pile on their 2026 winless misery.
Let’s take a look at five things we learned from Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal:
Igor Tudor tastes defeat in first Tottenham outing
The post-Thomas Frank era did not go according to plan for Tottenham, who will have hoped Igor Tudor’s appointment would spark a bounce.
Instead, it was more misery for Spurs, a repeat of the reverse fixture at the Emirates, as Arsenal beat Tudor’s side 4-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
That makes four defeats in a row in the north London derby and the first time Tottenham have lost three consecutive matches this season.
Tudor arrived with a near flawless record when taking over sides mid-season, having started impressively with both Juventus and Lazio, but his start at Spurs was far from what he would have expected in what can only be described as a wrenching defeat.
Tottenham need to look downwards
If any fan doubted whether Tottenham are in a relegation scrap, this latest outing sets reality straight, with Spurs four points above 18th.
The Lilywhites must now keep a close eye on developments at the foot of the table as it becomes a full-on battle to avoid the drop.
Of the three sides fighting to stay up, West Ham United were the only ones to earn a point this matchweek following a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
Nottingham Forest lost late on to Liverpool thanks to an Alexis Mac Allister strike, while Spurs suffered a defeat against Arsenal.
Next up for Tottenham is another London derby away at Craven Cottage, while West Ham face Liverpool and Forest take on Brighton.
Awful refereeing decisions prove costly once again
The focus for Tottenham will be to regroup and respond next weekend against Fulham. However, many Spurs supporters will feel aggrieved by some of the refereeing decisions on display.
I mean, Randal Kolo Muani’s second, which would have been an equaliser, was disallowed after a slight touch on the back of Gabriel.
This is the same Arsenal side that places several bodies around goalkeepers at corners, often impeding movement, but their players did not hesitate to hit the deck at the slightest opportunity this evening.
A slight touch and the goal is ruled out. It becomes even more frustrating when a similar goal was given against Spurs earlier in the season, when Hugo Ekitike did something similar to Cristian Romero and the goal stood.
Can Tudor get a tune out of Kolo Muani?
If there is any positive to take, it is Randal Kolo Muani’s display against the Gunners. The Frenchman pressed from the front, linked play well and was rewarded with a goal soon after Arsenal’s opener.
He could have made it two had his second not been disallowed. Tudor and Muani have previously worked together, and under the Croatian, the forward scored three goals in the six matches Tudor was in charge of last season.
That return followed a run of eight Serie A games without a goal before the Croat’s arrival. Perhaps this is the start of another resurgence for the Parisian.
Was the fight at least better post-Thomas Frank?
The questions among Tottenham supporters are numerous. Many will ask whether their side is truly in a relegation fight and, if so, whether they have what it takes to stay up.
There will also be doubts about what comes next and whether the post-Frank era will bring improvement.
The truth is, there were glimpses from this Tottenham side, particularly in a decent first-half display from a team low on confidence.
The second half was shambolic, with the defence all over the place, yet the intent from Tudor was evident as he made early attacking substitutions, unlike what was often seen under Frank.
What happens next remains to be seen, but it promises to be a long end to the season. At least it’s not until next week that Spurs either make or break our weekend again.
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