Wayne Rooney Issues Big Tottenham Relegation Verdict After Arsenal Humiliation
Wayne Rooney has shared his assessment of Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation prospects after their crushing 4-1 defeat at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
Spurs headed into Igor Tudor’s first game in charge sitting just four points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United and still searching for their first league victory of 2026. The pressure was already mounting before kick-off, and it intensified quickly when Eberechi Eze fired the visitors in front.
To their credit, Tottenham responded almost immediately, with Randal Kolo Muani restoring parity and briefly lifting the mood inside the stadium. However, any hopes of a revival were short-lived as the Gunners asserted their dominance, adding three unanswered goals to seal an emphatic derby victory and deepen Spurs’ woes.
The result leaves Tottenham in a perilous position in the lower reaches of the Premier League table. With an away trip to Fulham on the horizon, the north London side are acutely aware that they must begin collecting points quickly. Meanwhile, West Ham’s upturn in form — 11 points from their last six matches — has tightened the battle near the bottom and increased the anxiety around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Despite the alarming run of form — just two wins from their last 18 league fixtures — Rooney remains confident that Spurs will avoid the drop. Speaking on the BBC’s The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain expressed belief that Tottenham have enough quality to survive.
“I think they’ll be fine. I don’t think they’ll get relegated,” Rooney said. “For West Ham to pick up the number of points needed will be difficult.
“They’re down there, and they were there last season as well. They’re closer to the relegation zone this year, which is obviously concerning. But I still think they’re just about good enough to avoid relegation.
“It is a big worry, though, especially with Daniel Levy leaving the club and then Thomas Frank as well. There are big questions about the direction of the club.”
Rooney’s faith may not be entirely misplaced. While results have been bleak, Tudor has demonstrated in recent seasons that he can galvanise struggling squads. The Croatian tactician enjoyed productive short-term spells with both Lazio and Juventus, overseeing five wins and three draws from nine matches after taking over in March during successive campaigns. Tottenham will hope history repeats itself as Tudor attempts to steady the ship in north London.
There are also external factors that could work in Spurs’ favour. West Ham’s upcoming schedule appears daunting on paper, with away fixtures against Liverpool, Fulham and Aston Villa, in addition to a home clash with title-chasing Manchester City. Any slip-ups from the Hammers would ease the pressure on Tottenham, particularly if Spurs can capitalise and maintain their superior goal difference over the teams around them, including the side managed by Nuno Espirito Santo.
Encouragingly for Tudor, reinforcements are on the horizon. Club captain Cristian Romero is due back from suspension in mid-March, while Kevin Danso, Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie are all expected to return from injury around the same time. Their availability should significantly strengthen a defence that has struggled for consistency throughout the campaign.
For now, Tottenham’s immediate priority is simple: stop the slide and rediscover belief. The margin for error is slim, but as Rooney suggests, there may still be just enough quality — and perhaps just enough time — for Spurs to secure their Premier League status and avoid an unthinkable drop into the Championship.