Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal: ‘Overrated’ Ace Torn Apart After His ‘Painful’ Performance

Frustration boiled over among supporters on Sunday evening as Tottenham Hotspur slumped to a bruising 4-1 defeat against Arsenal in the latest instalment of the North London derby. Much of the anger online was directed at one “overrated” star, whose performance was labelled “painful” by fans watching their side unravel on one of the biggest stages of the season.

It may only be February, but tension is already gripping both ends of the Premier League table, and this derby carried enormous weight. With Igor Tudor stepping into the dugout and enjoying a two-week preparation period often associated with a so-called “new manager bounce,” there was cautious optimism that Spurs might produce a spirited display. Instead, the evening exposed many of the same frailties that have plagued them throughout a turbulent campaign.

Despite an injury crisis that is finally beginning to ease, Tottenham once again looked short on confidence and cohesion. The Lilywhites are still searching for their first league victory of 2026, and the pressure is intensifying with each passing week. Alarmingly, one of their marquee summer recruits — brought in to elevate the team — is struggling to deliver at the worst possible time.

The contest itself began with a flash of quality from Eberechi Eze, who opened the scoring with his first shot on target since his hat-trick in the previous derby meeting 91 days ago. His strike ignited the Emirates atmosphere and immediately put Tottenham on the back foot. Spurs responded swiftly, however, as Declan Rice was caught out and Randal Kolo Muani capitalised to make it 1-1, briefly restoring belief among the travelling support.

But whatever encouragement that equaliser provided quickly faded after the interval. Viktor Gyokeres powered Arsenal back in front with a clinical finish, before both he and Eze struck again to complete emphatic braces. The result not only secured derby bragging rights for the Gunners but also re-established a five-point cushion over Manchester City at the summit.

For Tottenham fans, the sting was made sharper by what might have been. The club came close to signing Eze last summer, only for the midfielder to prioritise a return to his boyhood side in what many described as a full-circle move. Spurs instead turned to Xavi Simons, investing £51 million in the former PSG prodigy. The expectation was clear: Simons would inject creativity, dynamism, and technical security into the midfield, transforming the way the team progressed the ball.

Yet on Sunday, the contrast between the two playmakers was stark. While Eze thrived under the spotlight, Simons endured a difficult evening. Over the full 90 minutes, he completed just 75 percent of his passes, surrendered possession 22 times, and failed in each of his three attempted dribbles. In dangerous transition moments — areas where Tottenham have often relied on quick, incisive decision-making — he hesitated or misplaced key passes, halting promising counter-attacks.

The reaction online was swift and unforgiving. One supporter fumed that Simons was “weak and fragile,” accusing him of repeatedly losing the ball in hazardous zones and failing to deliver when it mattered most. Another questioned how a player praised for his technique could look so uncertain in possession. Others were even more blunt, branding him “overrated” and expressing disbelief at how far short he fell of expectations in such a high-profile fixture. For many, he has become a symbol of Tottenham’s broader struggles — flashes of promise overshadowed by inconsistency and fragility.

What makes the criticism more significant is the context of Spurs’ slide down the table. Under Ange Postecoglou last season, there were tongue-in-cheek jokes about relegation as the club stumbled to 17th place. At the time, however, the dire form of sides like Leicester City, Southampton, and Ipswich Town ensured there was never genuine danger.

Now, the mood is far less relaxed. Tottenham are winless in their last 10 league matches and sit 16th, just four points above 18th-placed West Ham United. The teams in the bottom three are showing renewed fight, scrapping for every point. Wolves’ hard-earned draw against Arsenal in midweek demonstrated the resilience required to survive, while West Ham have pieced together a three-match unbeaten run. Burnley, too, recently clawed back a point at Chelsea after a dramatic 3-2 comeback over Crystal Palace.

In contrast, Spurs look tentative and short of conviction. The quality within the squad suggests they should be capable of assembling a run of positive results, yet the spark required to ignite such a turnaround remains elusive. Confidence appears brittle, decision-making rushed, and defensive organisation suspect — issues that cannot be solved overnight, even with a managerial change.

For Tudor, the task is becoming increasingly daunting. What was initially framed as a fresh start now feels like damage control. If Tottenham’s high-profile signings fail to shoulder responsibility and rediscover their best form, the club could find itself dragged into a battle few imagined possible at the start of the season.

The coming weeks may well define their campaign. For now, though, frustration reigns — and the scrutiny on underperforming stars like Simons will only intensify as Spurs attempt to halt a slide that is turning relegation talk from distant fantasy into an uncomfortable reality.