Igor Tudor's plain speaking made it clear he was under no illusions about the job in front of him after succeeding sacked Thomas Frank to take charge of Spurs until the end of the season.
And if any illusions remained, they were banished by the ease with which Spurs were swept aside by Arsenal.
Randal Kolo Muani's bustling equaliser offered some hope, but once his side fell behind early in the second half, the game was effectively over as a contest.
The home side never lacked endeavour, but this depleted squad was no match for Arsenal, the gulf in class between the teams brutally exposed.
Tudor returns to the training ground with a genuine relegation fight on his hands as Spurs now lie 16th, four points above the bottom three.
This was a painful introduction for the Croatian and, on this evidence, there may be more pain to come before matters improve, as they will have to do.