Les Ferdinand explains how Thomas Frank sent out the wrong message to his Spurs players in Arsenal loss

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Les Ferdinand was left extremely frustrated by the tactics that Thomas Frank employed against Arsenal.

If the pressure was not already on Frank ahead of Sunday’s game, it certainly is now after his side failed to compete in any facet of the game against their bitter rivals..

Not only were Tottenham on the end of a 4-1 drubbing, but they also showed no adventure throughout the 90 minutes, and the Lilywhites registered an xG of just 0.07 at the Emirates.

Some serious questions are now being asked about Frank’s negative tactics, and one club legend believes that the Dane deserves all the criticism coming his way.

Thomas Frank is entirely to blame for Tottenham’s 4-1 loss

Ferdinand admitted that he was so frustrated with Tottenham’s approach that he did not want to continue watching the North London derby halfway into the game.

The former Spurs striker suggested that the 52-year-old set his side up so negatively that the players could not get themselves back into the game once they went a goal down.

Ferdinand told Sky Sports Main Event (23/11/25): “Tottenham were that bad today. It’s embarrassing to watch. Halfway through this game, I was hoping I could go in the box with Michael McIntyre. I didn’t want to watch anymore. You can’t come to Arsenal in the North London Derby and not put everything on the line.

“I think the manager got his tactics wrong today. He came here to be negative and to sit back and try and hold Arsenal off, and I think that just sent out the wrong message to the players, because they just couldn’t get out again. Arsenal scored the first goal, and that was it. Tottenham were done.”

Frank has not got the balance right between defence and attack

While Frank is an extremely likeable character, the reality is that the tactics and performances we have watched from Spurs are as bad as anything we saw under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo.

The worry for Tottenham is that this pragmatism is what brought the Dane success at Brentford, and thus, it would be unrealistic if we suddenly expect him to change his principles and take the handbrakes off.

Frank appears to have the buy-in from the Spurs squad for now, but there is no doubt that he will start losing the dressing room if performances and results do not improve quickly.