Tottenham boss Thomas Frank unaware of 'extremely stupid' Arsenal cup blunder before 'painful' defeat to Bournemouth

Submitted by daniel on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 23:37

It was a night to forget for Thomas Frank and Tottenham Hotspur, who fell to defeat at Bournemouth and have now won just one of their last six Premier League matches. A photograph of Frank drinking from an Arsenal cup pre-match added an unwanted element of controversy, but the Spurs boss insisted in his post-match press conference that it was unintentional and a "sad" topic of discussion.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank dismissed any suggestion that he intentionally drank from an Arsenal cup before Wednesday's 3-2 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth.

The under-pressure Spurs boss was pictured drinking from the cup, which prominently featured the Arsenal badge, but said he did so inadvertently.

It was an unwanted talking point for Frank on another discouraging night for his team, who were beaten at the Vitality Stadium after a 95th-minute winner from Antoine Semenyo.

Asked about the cup situation in his post-match press conference, Frank said: "Definitely not noticed it.

"I think it's fair to say that we're not winning every single football match, so it would be absolutely, completely stupid of me to take a cup with Arsenal. Is there anyone thinking I've done that? All the staff have done it.

"They [Arsenal] have been in the changing room, the game before us. It's normal to take a cup, give me an espresso. I do that before every game. I think actually it's a little bit sad in football that I need to be asked a question about that.

"I think we're definitely going in the wrong direction if we need to worry about me having a cup with another logo of another club. Of course I'll never do that. That's extremely stupid."

On defeat at Bournemouth, which left Spurs 14th in the Premier League table, Frank told Sky Sports: "It's very difficult, it's really painful. The players put in everything. The first half was a fine half. We started well and went 1-0 up, conceded two goals from second-phase set pieces where we need to do better.

"I loved the mentality in the second half, we went out there and were completely on top. There was one team out there, and it was us.

"We got a more than well-deserved equaliser. We were the team closer to winning it in the end, so to concede an equaliser five minutes into added time is so painful in every aspect.

"The team worked so hard. It's very hard to take. You can never concede that when you've worked so hard to come back into the game though, of course."

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'A lovely moment for Antoine'

If Wednesday evening marked an end to his Bournemouth career, it was a heartwarming one for Semenyo - who was given a rousing reception when exiting the field after netting a stunning winner.

The 26-year-old is reportedly on the cusp of a move to Manchester City, and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola admitted it was likely a farewell.

Asked if it was Semenyo's last game, the Spaniard told Sky Sports: "It looks like it, yes.

"You have medical, all the formalities. I’m afraid to say it, as I don’t want to lose him, but I think it’s going to be his last moments with us."

Iraola added: "The last games we were deserving [of] more [points]. It can’t go every time to the other side. Today we were the ones shooting from the edge [of the box], scoring.

"A lovely moment for Antoine, very happy for him. Sometimes football gives you these things. He’s been top. He’s given everything, been committed to everything we wanted until the end.

"We gave him here all we could and I think it’s good that football gives him back this moment for sure."

Semenyo's winner ensured Bournemouth would win their first game since October, having gone 11 matches without victory.

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