Spurs Fans Call Out Thomas Frank for Approach vs Arsenal
Tottenham Boss Thomas Frank Under Fire After Tactical Misstep in Heavy North London Derby Defeat
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has found himself at the centre of intense criticism following his side’s humbling 4–1 defeat to Arsenal in Sunday’s North London derby — a match in which Mikel Arteta’s men dominated almost from start to finish.
Heading into the highly anticipated clash at the Emirates Stadium, Spurs had been one of the Premier League’s most formidable away sides. They were unbeaten on the road, shared the highest number of away points in the division, had scored the joint-most goals, and boasted the fewest conceded. All signs suggested Tottenham were equipped to go toe-to-toe with their fiercest rivals.
Even Frank admitted before kick-off that he and Arteta both preferred controlled, tactical matches, yet he fully expected the derby to be unpredictable.
“The interesting thing is that probably both Mikel and I would like a more controlled game, but it will probably end up an absolute madhouse,” Frank said beforehand. “I expect a difficult match, but one that could go in any direction.”
What followed, however, was a one-sided encounter that quickly exposed the flaws in Frank’s conservative set-up.
Arsenal Take Control as Spurs Struggle to Get Out of First Gear
Arsenal repeatedly penned Tottenham back and dictated the tempo, leaving Spurs chasing shadows for most of the first half. Frank, managing his first North London derby, opted for a defensive back-five — a decision that spectacularly backfired.
Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock just past the half-hour mark, before Eberechi Eze doubled Arsenal’s lead and etched his name into the history books. The England international became the first English player to score on his North London derby debut in the league since Ian Wright and Kevin Campbell achieved the feat back in 1991.
Tottenham, meanwhile, were toothless. They created an astonishing xG of 0.00 before halftime — a statistic that underlined just how passive and ineffective their approach had been.
At the break, Gary Neville didn’t hold back.
> “They’ve shown nothing. It’s been basic,” he said. “To me, that’s game over unless Thomas Frank does something remarkable.”
Neville’s prediction was soon realised. Within sixty seconds of the restart, Eze struck again to make it 3–0, effectively killing the game as a contest.
Fans Turn on Frank: “A Sackable Offence”
As Spurs continued to labour without any real attacking threat, frustration spilled over among the fanbase. Social media was filled with fierce criticism of Frank’s tactics.
One fan wrote:
> “I want to back Thomas Frank with all my heart, but in every big game this season we’ve shown no guts with defensive line-ups. It’s so hard to keep supporting it.”
Another was even more blunt:
“Setting up like this in a derby is lowkey a sackable offence ngl.”
A third supporter echoed the sentiment:
“Setting your team up like this in a derby… genuinely sackable from Frank.
Others questioned his in-game management, pointing out the attacking talent he left on the bench.
> “Real test for Frank. Five defenders, two defensive midfielders, and now he needs two goals away to the league leaders. He’s got Porro, Simons, Tel, Muani, and Johnson on the bench. Do something drastic.”
Another added:
> “I really wanted to support Frank but he’s making it incredibly hard. Tactics and setups consistently poor. Not sure how much longer he gets.
Late Goal Not Enough as Arsenal Pull Away at the Top
Richarlison did briefly spark hope for a comeback after scoring in the 55th minute, but any slim chance of a revival was crushed when Eze completed his hat-trick, sealing a statement victory for the Gunners.
The result leaves Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, solidifying their strong title credentials. Tottenham, meanwhile, remain stuck in mid-table. With just five wins from twelve matches, Frank’s men sit in ninth — and pressure on the new manager is beginning to intensify.
As supporters continue to question the direction of the team and Frank’s decision-making in big moments, the defeat at the Emirates may well prove to be a defining moment in the Dane’s early tenure at Spurs.