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The Premier League's title race may offer few twists and turns but even during seasons when the action at the top of the table is enthralling, the start of spring usually ushers in a new sense of urgency for another batch of teams entirely. It is officially crunch time for the relegation-threatened sides, for whom the stakes are much higher than winning or losing a title. It feels appropriate, then, that this weekend's most notable matchup in England is a proverbial six-pointer between two teams barely above the drop zone – Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, the latter a surprise entry in this season's relegation race.

While Forest's slide down the table from last season's seventh-place finish was gradual, Spurs' entry into the relegation battle almost happened all at once, forcing questions of exactly how a perennial top four challenger – and last season's UEFA Europa League winners – got here. Things have only gotten worse in recent weeks, Spurs slipping from a six-point cushion above the relegation zone to one flimsy point since hiring coach Igor Tudor a month ago, conceding 14 goals in his first four games in charge. The tide finally may be shifting in north London, though, with Sunday's game against Forest arguably coming at the perfect time for Spurs.

This time a week ago, Spurs were on a winless run that stretched back to the end of January, the downward skid complete with a capitulation at Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. Things could not have been worse – they conceded four goals in 22 minutes in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, making a goalkeeper substitution just 17 minutes in after Antonin Kinsky's mistake-laden Champions League debut.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Nottingham Forest, odds

Date: Sunday, March 22 | Time: 10:15 a.m. ET

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

TV: USA Network | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)

Odds: Tottenham Hotspur +120; Draw +230; Nottingham Forest +230

The mood has shifted for Spurs, perhaps because the reality has sunk in. First came an unglamorous 1-1 draw at Liverpool, a valuable point for a team trying to stave off relegation. They were understaffed at Anfield – center backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were unavailable, making their defense easier to carve up. The Reds' offense misfired frequently, though, paving the way for a hard-working Spurs to get their equalizer through Richarlison in the 90th minute, the Brazil international exemplifying the team's persistent performance.

TTe flourish, though, made a comeback of sorts on Wednesday in the Champions League. Spurs won their first game in nearly two months with a 3-2 result against Atleti, one that did not eradicate the first leg deficit but one that offered a stark reminder of what this team can actually be, warts and all. Atleti overperformed from an attacking perspective, mustering just 1.02 expected goals over the course of the game, Spurs matching them for shots and outdoing them with 2.39 expected goals along the way. Xavi Simons, a player whose potential has yet to be realized in a season where he's been underutilized by two different coaches, had one of his most notable outings since his summertime move – he bagged a brace, including a late penalty that ensured Spurs would win.

For the first time in a long time, they were not defined by sloppy mistakes. There was a level of competence – and competitive drive – that was clear to see, offering a newfound verve that has been sorely missed by the Spurs faithful.

Against Forest, Tottenham have the chance to go unbeaten in three for the first time since January, two draws in league play sandwiching a 2-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt to wrap up league phase play in the Champions League. Forest will be equally motivated – they only sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference and rested their players midweek in the Europa League, their focus on Sunday's match. Spurs only need the semblance of decent form to dig themselves out of this hole, though, and a spirited outing against a European mainstay in Atleti suggests they are more than capable of rising to the challenge.

Years removed from the peak of their glory days under Diego Simeone, it comes as little surprise when Atletico Madrid's coach takes a more cautious approach about his team's hopes in the UEFA Champions League. He offered a reminder in a press conference on Monday that Atleti made it to the round of 16 via the knockout phase playoffs, the fourth-best team in the league phase awaiting them for Tuesday's first leg in Madrid. He said, as a matter of fact, that his side "are not favorites," but if the label does not fit them, it is as close to a misnomer as it gets for Tottenham Hotspur, a team in full-blown crisis.

Simeone is not factually incorrect about Spurs' exploits -- a favorable league phase draw and the Premier League's inherent might over its European counterparts, especially the middling ones, means they soared to fourth place, qualifying directly for the round of 16 in the process. Since Spurs closed out their league phase campaign with a 2-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, though, a lot has changed. They have not won once in their six games since the trip to Germany, picking up a single point in a surprise 2-2 draw with Manchester City, fired the coach who averaged just 1.1 points per game in the Premier League, and … got worse.

Their unimpressive five-point cushion above the relegation zone the day Thomas Frank was fired has since been trimmed down to a flimsy one-point advantage, losing all three matches since ex-Juventus coach Igor Tudor succeeded Frank. One could theoretically excuse Tudor's shortcomings in his opening match, a 4-1 loss to league leaders Arsenal, but the new coach's influence is hard to spot, even if the sample size is small.

How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Tottenham Hotspur, odds

Date: Tuesday, March 10 | Time: 4 p.m. ET

Location: Metropolitano Stadium -- Madrid, Spain

Live stream: Paramount+

Odds: Atletico Madrid -195; Draw +350; Tottenham Hotspur +500

Simeone offered a reminder of what Tudor's teams are supposed to look like, describing him as a coach "who has always set up his teams to play with an offensive thought." Even when accounting for Spurs' unimpressively assembled squad, "offensive thought" is nowhere to be found -- Spurs averaged 11 shots a game under tactical pragmatist Frank and have not been all that much better in three games under Tudor, nor have they exceeded Frank's average of one expected goal per match in any real sense. It is one thing to put up low figures against defense-oriented Arsenal, but in subsequent matches against Fulham and Crystal Palace -- games that a relegation-threatened team has to believe are winnable -- meaningful attacking results have been hard to spot.

They have had their moments since Tudor took charge – they were level with Arsenal at halftime and had a late burst of shots, while Dominic Solanke's goal against Crystal Palace on Thursday provided a flicker of hope before a 3-1 defeat. Really though, moments of positivity have been in shockingly short supply, Spurs personifying brain fog. They appear disjointed and checked out at times, as if players are slowly withdrawing from the game as a coping mechanism for how unexpectedly poorly the season has gone. Few have stepped up to shake the team out of their funk -- Micky van de Ven was sent off for pulling Ismaila Sarr to the ground in the penalty area, a sloppy error from a player whose game is supposed to be cleaner than that. Moments later, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was slow to react to Sarr's goal as Palace took a 3-1 lead, earning an earful from defender Pedro Porro after the fact.

Tudor has not managed to correct Spurs' defensive issues, the team conceding nine goals in three games, their organization in the back appearing worse with each match. Spurs were not sitting pretty beforehand in that regard, but they are far away from Frank's average of 1.6 goals against per game. The issue technically pre-dates Tudor and Frank -- Ange Postecoglou was fired last May for a lack of defensive resilience that ensured they would finish 17th in the Premier League, but Postecoglou was without van de Ven and Cristian Romero through injury for much of the season and deprioritized domestic play en route to the UEFA Europa League title. Frank did not have the fitness excuse, but Romero has been unavailable for all of Tudor's tenure so far through suspension, though both he and van de Ven will be available on Tuesday in Madrid. It just might make a difference.

"He has missed a lot, but he has been doing a lot," Tudor said about Romero. "He has been working with the fitness coach and doing a lot of running to be in a top condition. Now he can show that he is a leader."

Romero and van de Ven are arguably Spurs' best players, but it only ramps up the pressure on the group as a whole to finally offer onlookers – a list that includes ex-Spurs boss and current U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino, according to The Athletic – a source of optimism. As talented as they are, the center backs have been mistake-prone, which brings the conversation back to Tudor.

Spurs' misfortune is not of his creation, but he accepted the task of rescuing them from the hole they dug themselves in. The squad assembled by sporting director Johan Lange is very obviously not designed to compete for a top-five finish in the Premier League, even if that was Lange's intention. This, though, is not a team that should be in 17th place in the Premier League. It seems as if Tudor has yet to find a cohesive idea to build this team around, losing valuable time with a team that cannot waste it.

The Champions League, theoretically, offers Spurs and Tudor a clean slate. The baggage of the Premier League table need not apply. There's no relegation race to worry about, suspensions to their top-tier center backs are completely irrelevant. It is the perfect opportunity to begin turning things around, at least in terms of a strong performance, even if the right result might elude them against an Atleti team that remains competitive in Europe. If the group cannot turn things around, though, it forces questions about Tudor's suitability to the job he signed up for -- and will only add another layer of panic for a team that's already in panic mode.

So, you're in a relegation battle. Ok, don't worry, this is a judgment-free zone. Sure, it's a bit weird that you're pulling in three-quarters of a billion dollars in revenue and can't extricate yourself from the bottom teams. Honestly, though, that's the last we need to talk about that for now. Tottenham Hotspur, you are where you are. No sense focusing on how you got there right now. Let's talk about how you get out of it.

Given that you are not deeply familiar with how this whole scrap for survival works -- yes, we know you were 17th last season, but it wasn't a real 17th, there were three teams behind you so bad that you were always safe -- it's probably worth starting with the very, very obvious. If this is a race for survival and there are three beasts racing to drag the pack into the depths of the Championship, then there is no obligation on Spurs to be the fastest. You simply need to be the fourth slowest. And you even have a bit of a head start to play with. You sit sixteenth, two points ahead of Nottingham Forest, and, crucially, four points ahead of West Ham.

Those four points matter because they are four points West Ham have to get just to start the conversation about who might go down between them and their cross-London nemeses. If the Irons were to continue on the point-gathering trajectory that they set themselves at the start of this season, then they would need four or five games just to get level with Tottenham. There is breathing space there.

That's the reason for cheer, the sort of welcome boost that Dr. Tottenham has been administering to patients all the way through 2026. The bad news is that the patient in West Ham colors has shown clear signs of life lately. Since the start of 2026 -- that dread period in which Spurs have won no domestic matches -- the club from east London have picked up 11 points in nine games. Worse still for you, Tottenham, they're trending in a direction that would suggest they'll get even more.

Their non-penalty expected goal (npxG) difference per game is 0.21 over that time period, the eighth-best mark in the division. Their actual defensive record has been spoiled by a 5-2 loss to Liverpool, but allowing a reasonable 1.20 npxG per game suggests Nuno Espirito Santo is delivering the sort of consistent adequacy that is why Spurs hired him all those years ago. And why Nottingham Forest probably shouldn't have sacked him earlier this season, and three coaches ago.

In their defeats against Liverpool and the draws with Bournemouth and Manchester United, West Ham could have felt hard done by when they looked at the xG. They might feel even worse a few months down the line. Their run-in is pretty horrible. At home to the top two, away to Europe chasers like Aston Villa, Brentford and Newcastle. There aren't a lot of banker points on the road to May for West Ham, and that's good news for you Tottenham.

So is the fact that, while West Ham have much better underlying metrics than Tottenham, Nottingham Forest don't, really. Only time will tell whether Evangelos Marinakis blinked in sacking Sean Dyche, whose side was certainly wobbling early in the new year, but he has traded out a manager with a consistent record of keeping ordinary teams in the Premier League for a manager who did it once last season, Vitor Pereira. There is certainly enough talent in that squad to get on a run, but you could hardly blame any of the Forest players if their heads are fried now they're on coach number four of the year.

And they too have tricky fixtures, their run in rated about as difficult as those of Tottenham, who you'll notice have not really come up that often in this article about their chances of surviving the drop. Weird, no? Perhaps not if you consider the fight for survival as an inverse in the title race. If you're Manchester City or Arsenal all you can do is win your remaining games and hope the other team do you a favor. Of course Spurs could try the same approach, but if they were capable of doing anything like that they wouldn't be here in the first place.

Tottenham vs. Crystal Palace viewing information

Date: Thursday, March 5 | Time: 3 p.m. ET

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium -- London

TV: USA

Odds: Tottenham +130; Draw +240; Crystal Palace +180

The reason why Opta give Tottenham only a 4.5% chance of relegation isn't a ringing endorsement of Igor Tudor or his players. There might be a bit of generosity built into their ranking of last season's Europa League champions, but what matters more is how they judge Forest, West Ham and the remaining fixtures of those two. Spurs might be staggering across the line, but no projection model out there fancies their rivals to hit sprint speed. On the face of it bookmakers are rather more skeptical, you can get odds of +400 on Tottenham being relegated, an implied probability of 20%, but their priority here is not accurately market the likelihood of any event happening but to make money. If they can tempt a few flutters, maybe by fans insuring themselves against heartbreak, then they will. All the more, when the opposite side of the bet involves locking up lots of money for a relatively small return in betting that the heavy favorites to survive aren't, in fact, heavy enough.

That's the thing about being in a relegation battle, all the more so when you're a very wealthy team. Plenty of others are going to be enjoying it. You won't. This is a crawl to the finish, one where you're constantly looking over your shoulder. West Ham did what at Craven Cottage? Forest are coming to town in a few weeks and we're going to be so doomed then.

It's going to be scary. There are going to be plenty of games that you think you should win and you don't. Right now, though, as we assess the landscape with 10 games to go, it looks like everything is going to be just about all right. After all, there's only one other relegation spot and two teams much more likely to fill it.

Wait, sorry, what? Wolves just did what to Liverpool?

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no.

Tottenham will host Manchester United in London on Saturday in one of the most awaited clashes of the season. Thomas Frank, Spurs manager, is currently dealing with some injuries that are affecting both team and performances while the visitors are coming from a finally positive month as Ruben Amorim's Manchester United won three and drew one in the last four Premier League matches.

Here's what you need to know.

Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Nov. 8 | Time: 7:30 a.m. ET

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium -- London

Live stream: Peacock

Odds: Tottenham +166; Draw +251; Manchester United +153

Amorim voted Manager of the Month

Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim won the October Manager of the Month award and spoke ahead of the game against Tottenham on Friday, expressing his happiness for the trophy and the recent results. "I'm really happy, not just for my staff, but also for my players. I think they deserve full credit for this award because, in the end, the manager that wins this kind of award is not the best team, but the team that performs maybe better during this month. So I just expect to win the next one because it is a sign we won football matches."

What are Tottenham saying?

Speaking ahead of the home game, Frank took some time to reflect on his first months at the club: "That will be a work in progress, no doubt about that. I think the first three months have been super exciting, a big learning curve, you learn every single day. You walk into a new club, you learn the players, you learn the staff, you learn about the club, you learn about how it works, the fans, everything. But I think it's been overall, fine. I think we've been doing quite well to be able to get the amount of points we got in the Champions League and in the Premier League, competing in two fronts at the same time."

Possible lineups

Tottenham XI: Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence; Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur; Brennan Johnson, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert; Randal Kolo Muani.

Manchester United XI: Senne Lammens; Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Luke Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot; Bryan Mbeumo; Matheus Cunha; Benjamin Sesko.

Prediction

Manchester United come from three wins and one draw in the last four Premier League games played and this is their big chance to prove them again. Pick: Tottenham 1, Manchester United 2.

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It's the end of an era at Tottenham. After lifting the Europa League title with the squad last season, club captain Heung-min Son has confirmed that he'll be leaving the club. After joining from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer of 2015, Son has completed 10 seasons with Tottenham, all culminating in winning the Europa League. He amassed 127 goals and 71 assists in Premier League play while also forming one of the best attacking duos in league history alongside Harry Kane.

Watch what could be Son's last game in a Tottenham shirt on Sunday as Spurs face Newcastle at 7 a.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

But as Tottenham move into its next era under Thomas Frank, the South Korean won't be part of it, with his next destination likely being Los Angeles FC. A club that knows a thing or two about Tottenham legends after winning the MLS Cup with Gareth Bale, LAFC are weighing up a $20 million deal for the star, according to Tom Bogert. It'd be quite a coup to land Son alongside Denis Bouanga while chasing the Western Conference crown.

"I just want to share information that I have decided to leave this club this summer. Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision. It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career," Son said in a press conference in Seoul. "The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge. I came to North London as a kid. A boy came to London who couldn't speak English. I leave this club as a man. Thanks to all the Spurs fans who have given me so much love. I spoke with only a few guys, ones I've spent a long time with. They're disappointed but in a respectful way."

Those 10 seasons have been quite a time, so let's take a look back at some of Son's best moments in a Tottenham shirt:

Son has scored quite a few special goals in a Spurs shirt as he has always been someone who marks the biggest moments with flair, and his 100th Premier League goal was no different. Curling a shot from outside the box, Brighton had no chance at saving the shot. He became the first Asian player to reach that milestone in the league when he accomplished the feat in 2023 after only 260 Premier League appearances at the time.

It's a fitting place for this moment, as in 2020, it only took 30 minutes for Son to put four goals past Southampton at Saint Mary's Stadium. The partnership between Kane and Son shone on that day, with all four goals being assisted by Kane. Following the match, Son immediately heaped praise on Kane for his assists.

"I wouldn't have scored four goals without this guy. He's amazing. Four assists, he deserved the man of the match today," Son said.

Messages like this are part of why Son would go on to captain the team.

Going coast to coast may be a common occurrence in basketball, but not in soccer, but that didn't stop Son from doing it. Picking up the ball in the defensive box for Spurs, Son proceeded to show off his legs and dribble through the entire Burnley team before putting the ball into the back of the net. It's also a goal that shows that the definition of what an assist is can be blurry due to Jan Vertonghen getting one on the play. It was a goal that ended up earning Son a Puskas award for one of his most iconic goals in a Spurs shirt.

Bringing Kane back into the fold, his relationship with Son was something special during their time at the club. Holding the Premier League record for goal contributions to each other with 47, they were quite a duo leading the attack. They knew where each other were at all times and were strong enough passers to put the ball where it needed to be for a goal. Their lead is 11 goals better than the next best duo of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard with 36 goals, so this is a record that could stand for quite a while. Their journey together includes an incredible run to the Champions League final in 2019.

Lifting the Europa League trophy has to go down as Son's greatest accomplishment with the club. It may have been done during an odd season where Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League, but as we get further away from the season, the image that won't fade is Son as club captain raising a European trophy in his 10th season with the club. It's a perfect culmination of what he brought in a Tottenham shirt as he leaves the club in a better position than it was in when he joined it.

Tottenham will enter the new season with their trophy drought in the past after lifting the Europa League title, but instead of that trophy providing clarity, this is very much a club in transition. Thomas Frank will lead the squad this campaign after replacing Ange Postecoglou, and club captain Heung-Min Son could be on his way out of the club with the potential of a move to Los Angeles FC on the horizon.

Despite these changes, there's reason for optimism at the club even after finishing just above the relegation zone last season in 17th place. It was a chaotic campaign for Tottenham and they only picked up 14 points in 19 Premier League matches after January 1st, with a whopping -14 goal difference, and while focus may have been elsewhere in aiming to win the Europa League, that's an unacceptable performance for a team that was expected to compete for a place in the top four.

The highs of Postecoglou's system were high, such as defeating Manchester City 4-0 away from home, but the lows were also quite low, such as losing 4-2 to Wolves in April. His system wasn't a repeatable one, and if one of Mickey Van De Ven or Cristian Romero missed time due to injuries or suspensions, the entire defense fell into shambles. Looking at that, it makes sense why Tottenham would look to make a move, and Frank's arrival comes at the right time.

Unburdened by the need to immediately end a trophy drought, Frank can take time to implement his system, add new players, and create a flexible, dynamic Tottenham. Postecoglou brought dynamism, but his teams lacked a Plan B. In contrast, a Frank-led Brentford side employed multiple formations and player fits to give them a tactical edge, competing with the Premier League's best. Set plays were a focus, and they mainly operated out of a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 formation, both styles that suit the core players at Tottenham.

Alongside Chelsea and Brighton, Spurs also used some of the youngest lineups in the league, with both teams having an average age of just over 24 years old. Four players 22 or younger logged more than 1000 Premier League minutes, and with teenagers such as Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall set to take steps forward in the new campaign, there's a lot to like about the squad.

Depth in key areas and smart transfers

After joining on loan from Bayern Munich as a January addition to a team desperate for attackers, Mathys Tel has joined on a permanent deal to boost the attack. Direct on the dribble and unafraid to shoot from anywhere, the 20-year-old is the perfect type of player to improve under Frank, boosting the attack. Centerback Kota Takai has also joined alongside Luka Vusovic, officially joining from Hajduk Split. Mohammed Kudus joined from West Ham United to boost Frank's attack, and while Morgan Gibbs-White didn't join as well to put things over the top, the expected arrival of midfielder Joao Palhinha on loan can boost a major need.

Despite having Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur in the squad, Tottenham's defensive midfielders were more comfortable playing further up the pitch. Palhinha is a limited player, which is why it was odd that he was a Bayern Munich target in the first place, but his strength of sitting deep, cleaning up danger, and playing simple passes to his teammates will help make Tottenham's system easier to reproduce.

Even if an attacking midfielder doesn't join before the season starts, healthy seasons from Dominic Solanke and James Maddison will go a long way in improving the squad. Pape Sarr is another midfielder who can get involved in the attack, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold gone to Real Madrid, Pedro Porro will have a shot at being the top attacking right back in the Premier League this coming season. Essentially, if Frank can figure out the defensive shape of this squad, the attack won't be what's holding them back. He hasn't dealt with the grind of a Champions League season, but with the new league phase setup, Tottenham will have more opportunity to rotate the squad in Europe than they did in a traditional group stage.

What does Frank bring?

Comfortable rotating his sides to adapt to the opposition, there's no team that Frank will overlook managing at Tottenham. Being able to bring core members of his Brentford staff to the club will ensure that players are fully prepared, and with Spurs not being involved in the Club World Cup, they've had a standard preseason during which Frank can work with the squad uninterrupted to prepare for facing Paris Saint-Germian in the UEFA Super Cup on Aug. 13 to kick off the season.

Pressing is important since Frank sides like to keep a high backline, which is a similar aspect to Postecoglou's management. While that can cause them to concede on the counter, a counterpress led by Solanke will also create plenty of goals on its own due to how fast Spurs can make a team pay on the break. Combine that with a focus on set plays and defending them, and it provides Tottenham with a good base to work from, even if there isn't a major improvement from players in the new campaign.

With Frank teams enjoying attacking from wide areas, Kudus and Porro will be key, but another player to watch is Wilson Odebert. Injuries kept him from having a major impact, but his skill at dribbling and creating chances will be important in this new system to keep things ticking over. Frank will need everyone who is ready to contribute to get the ball into the box and press while not in possession.

Frank teams value fitness to outwork the opponent, and with such a young squad at Tottenham, it's something that can be instilled pretty quickly. Even at center back with two new players joining and Radu Dragusin returning from injury, there's more depth to cope with players outside of the starting Xi being available. That alone raises the floor of this team.

What can Tottenham accomplish?

Despite the optimism around the squad, making the top four would not only need everything to go perfectly, but it'd also need a slip-up from other teams. Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool seem to be in a tier of their own, but after those four, it's anyone's guess how things could shake out. Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa have taken steps back, while Brighton doesn't feel ready to compete at the highest level yet. This would make fifth place the goal for Tottenham this campaign while also making a strong run in the cups.

In the Champions League, Spurs are talented enough to get out of the League Phase, but when it comes to going further, that's when it will depend on the draw and how much they've improved under Frank. This is a team that could make a run but they'd need the right draw in order to do that. At least winning a knockout stage match or making the round of 16 is plenty to build from, though. This was also the expectation last season and while it didn't work out, that's why Frank was brought in. He needs to hit the ground running but the stage is set to do just that.

How to watch Tottenham vs. Newcastle United

It's the first North London derby ever played outside the United Kingdom and it comes at a critical juncture for both teams. It seems as though the gap between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur is as wide as it has been in a generation, and the reality is you have to go back nearly 50 years, to Spurs' temporary sojourn in the second tier in 1977-78 for the last time as many positions separated them from their rivals down the Seven Sisters Road.

Arsenal ended 2024-25 in the familiar position of second, while for Tottenham this proved to be a year they flirted with both triumph and disaster, landing on a curious form of the latter by winning the Europa League and finishing in 17th, just above the Premier League drop zone. The latter cost Ange Postecoglou his job with Thomas Frank quickly alighted on as the replacement.

If the former Brentford boss wants to quickly ingratiate himself to his new faithful then ending a six man winless streak against the great enemy would be an ideal way to begin, even if it's just in preseason. The North London derby tends to be one where home advantage pays off spectacularly -- Arsenal are 15 years unbeaten in Premier League derbies at the Emirates Stadium -- but right now Spurs are on a three game losing streak at their own ground. Perhaps Hong Kong's neutral soil (and a friendly match you can watch live on CBS Sports Golazo Network or Paramount+) will give them the encouragement that they can go on to match the Gunners in the greater tests to come. For now this game alone offers quite a helpful measure of the progress Tottenham have or have not made this summer, as their new boss acknowledged on Tuesday.

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"I think it's a great challenge besides being our biggest rivals and the first North London Derby outside the UK," said Frank. "It's also right now one of the best teams, I must say unfortunately, in the world. We also need to be honest. In that way it's going to be a big test, but it's more than a test as against Arsenal it's not only a friendly. Of course it's a game we will do everything we can to win."

Can Spurs really hope to swing a 36 point gap back in their favor? What is the limit of what can realistically be expected of Frank's new side and does it come anywhere close to a worst case scenario for Arsenal? Read on to find out.

Arsenal vs. Tottenham viewing information

Date: Thursday, July 31 | Time: 7:30 a.m. ET

Location: Kai Tak Sports Park -- Hong Kong

Live stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network or Paramount+

Odds: Arsenal -182; Draw +320; Tottenham +380

Arsenal's floor

There is a fair argument to be made that what we saw from Arsenal last season was not that much higher than a bottom 10 percent possible outcome for Arteta's side. Devastated by injuries, Mikel Arteta got only six league starts out of Gabriel Jesus, 20 from Bukayo Saka, 21 from Kai Havertz, 25 from Gabriel Martinelli and 26 from Martin Odegaard. That is arguably Arsenal's five most important forwards, each missing nearly a third of the season or more. In such circumstances the Gunners fairly swiftly fell too far behind Liverpool to mount a compelling title challenge, but even with a few wobbles they were never really at risk of slipping out of the top four.

Had Arteta had greater depth at his disposal perhaps the Gunners could have kept on Liverpool's heels and baited a few wobbles from the champions. Certainly new sporting director Andrea Berta has moved to address that, a sextet of new signings meaning that there are two experienced, international level players for almost every position. The only one where that might not be the case is Martin Odegaard's, where Ethan Nwaneri currently figures to be the back up. Having one of the brightest young prospects in the recent history of the Hale End academy is hardly to be sniffed at.

Arsenal know what their ceiling is: a Premier League title and/or Champions League. How far might they fall? Setting aside black swan events, as we will for Tottenham below, it is hard to make much of a case for the Gunners drifting outside the top four. A third place finish, that's pretty easy. Arsenal aren't as good as they might be, Manchester City and Liverpool are.

Maybe you could add Chelsea to that mix too. After all the Blues were only five points back come the end of last season and their expected goal difference of 21.16 was not too far off Arsenal's 26.55. Perhaps Newcastle keep Alexander Isak, don't get gazumped on every player they want to sign and start the season well. In those circumstances perhaps the Gunners could drop into the Champions League bubble but it surely can't get any worse that that, can it?

*No, that was not an invitation for you to all go Mick McCarthy on me*

Tottenham's ceiling

As for Spurs, their last season is a tricky one to assess. For roughly the first third of the campaign, Postecoglou's men won every game where they were the dominant side and got next to nothing from the close ones. Then came a raft of injuries through the Tottenham defense more brutal even than those Arsenal faced in their attack, weeks on end where it was a remarkable stroke of fortune if two of the regular back five could take the field. By the time that all eased Premier League hopes were over, but the Europa League glistened temptingly on the horizon, so Postecoglou rightly concluded that it was better to sacrifice a few domestic games when the other competition offered silverware and a route to the Champions League.

The aggregate story for the league does not look encouraging though. Seventeenth may have overexaggerated Spurs' failings but their expected goal difference was the 15th best in the division, the 65 they conceded a high watermark of defensive failings beaten only by Wolves and the three relegated teams.

Tottenham looked like a team that could score three but might just concede four and their transfer business this summer has done little to change that. Mathys Tel's loan has been made permanent while Mohamed Kudus has been the marquee signing so far, arriving from West Ham. What investment has gone in to strengthening the defense appears to be for the long term with signings such as Kota Takai. So far the deep-lying midfielder that this squad so desperately needed last season has not arrived.

It is fair to assume that a coach of Frank's qualities will strengthen Spurs defensively, his Brentford side having actually allowed fewer xG per game over the past four seasons than his new employers. Fitness alone should bring the defensive output back towards the rest of the big six. But can Tottenham really hope to catch their greatest rival?

The bookmakers would suggest not, ranking Spurs as around the eighth most likely team to qualify for the Champions League. That seems a fair estimation of where their squad is now. There are bright young things like Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall who could play a big role on a top four team in the future and then veterans like Heung-min Son (should rumors of a move to Los Angeles not pan out) and Richarlison with plenty of miles in their legs. Between them, there are maybe only a couple of key players rounding out into their prime at 24. The best of them, Micky van de Ven, struggles for availability.

Now perhaps they get 38 games from him and Cristian Romero. Perhaps Son holds back the ageing tide and maybe Frank's coaching acumen makes up for the defensive limitations of his midfield options. A top ten percentile season, in other words. What might be the ceiling then? Realistically it might be the cusp of Champions League contention, one that would be easier if a few more of the big six fell off.

So, could Spurs' ceiling take them higher than Arsenal's floor? Probably not in a season that is vaguely normal; it would require a very, very good Tottenham campaign to come at the same time as lightning kept striking the Emirates Stadium. However this is North London, a part of the world that can deliver multiple 5-2 derby comebacks in the same year. Strange things can happen.

After successful first leg outings, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will each hope to clinch a spot in the final of the UEFA Europa League when they return to play on Thursday against Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt, respectively.

The English sides boast a two-plus goal lead after dominant first legs, with United traveling to Bilbao and coming out with a 3-0 win and Spurs collecting a 3-1 win at home against Bodo/Glimt. It means both are the heavy favorites to advance to the final, but the situation could also force big performances out of Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt, who may need to be at their best to keep their Europa League hopes alive.

For the teams that eventually advance, a meeting at Bilbao's San Mames Stadium on May 21 awaits, as does a spot in next season's edition of the UEFA Champions League for the champion.

Here's what you need to know before tuning into the second leg of the Europa League semifinals.

First leg scores

Athletic Bilbao 0, Manchester United 3

Tottenham Hotspur 3, Bodo/Glimt 1

How to watch Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao, odds

Date: Thursday, May 8 | Time: 3 p.m. ET

Location: Old Trafford -- Stretford, England

Live stream: Paramount+

Odds: Manchester United -115; Draw +260; Athletic Bilbao +280

What Manchester United are saying

A three-goal advantage going into the second leg is usually a signal that the team with the advantage has already won most of the battle, but Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is not resting on his laurels – and it might not just be out of respect for the opposition.

Amorim may only be about six months into the job but he has already had a front row seat to the chaos that United can create, so much so that he is not exactly sure which version of the Red Devils will turn up on Thursday.

"It is hard to say," he said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "Sometimes during the game, we are one team, something happens and we lose our mind a little bit. If you look at our team we cannot say today what is going to happen. Control the narrative – we cannot do that. I feel we need to score to go to the next round. We will have to suffer a bit to go to the final."

Amorim also does not feel that United have the upper hand considering Athletic will be without three key players – this season's top scorer Oihan Sancet and the Williams brothers, Nico and Inaki.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "For us it is the top team of Athletic. I understand it is hard to play without key players but for us it doesn't matter. We need to go to the game and try to win it."

How to watch Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham Hotspur, odds

Date: Thursday, May 7 | Time: 3 p.m. ET

Location: Aspmyra Stadion -- Bodo, Norway

TV: CBS Sports Network | Live stream: Paramount+

Odds: PSG +109; Draw +263; Arsenal +234

What Tottenham Hotspur are saying

Spurs' margin of victory might be slightly slimmer than United's, the type that might create a tighter match if one flick of the ball goes Glimt's way at the right time, but a two-goal advantage in the second leg means the visitors are within touching distance of the final. It brings back the question that has chased Tottenham for years now: Will they, at long last, snap the trophy drought that is now in its 18th year, and will it finally change the narrative around the team?

"I don't know if it will change it, but certainly some of it becomes redundant for sure, because a big part of the narrative around the club is that we haven't won for a very long time," manager Ange Postecoglou said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "Some of it will still exist beyond that. From my perspective, [it is about] how do you create a winning culture? It all starts with winning. The more experiences you have of winning, if you can land a trophy along the way, it certainly gives belief within the whole club that it is capable of doing. We've still got a big game tomorrow to even get through to get to a final before we can start talking about that."

The journey ahead, be it establishing a winning culture, lifting the Europa League or just successfully advancing after Thursday's second leg, Spurs will not be at full strength. Son Heung-min did not travel with a foot issue, while James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall have been ruled out for the rest of the season. It leaves Postecoglou with some challenges in his team selection but as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario pointed out, they have been here before.

"We always have to deal with it to be fair," he said. "We will not have Sonny and Madders tomorrow, but it is on us. The entire squad will be crucial."

As for the other potential reward on the line – a spot in the Champions League – Postecoglou also has a response for anyone – or Arsene Wenger, specifically – who thinks that berth should not go to the Europa League winner.

"Well that's a debate that's been raging for years, mate," he said. "At least the last eight days! I've never heard that before. I have said it before, mate: Spurs does crazy things to people. It does, it does. … You put that club (Tottenham) into any sentence or issue, and invariably they all come out and try and diminish us as much as they can. Why wasn't it an issue before but it's an issue now? What's the difference? I don't understand what the difference is. Last year, fifth (in the Premier League) didn't get you into the Champions League, and now it does. What does that mean?"

It's a battle of underperforming teams as Tottenham host Manchester City on Wednesday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but both sides do have something to play for. City's top-five hopes and a place in the Champions League next season are hanging on by a thread as they're level with Newcastle United in the table. Tottenham may be just about out of the running for a European spot but still going strong in the Europa League, it's important to maintain form during what has been a trying season for Ange Postecoglou's men.

Here are our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:

How to watch and odds

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26 | Time: 2:30 p.m. ET

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium -- London

Live stream: Peacock

Odds: Tottenham +220; Draw +300; Manchester City +100

Storylines

Tottenham: For much of the season, Postecoglou has stressed that he just needs his team to be healthy and they'll have a shot at winning games and so far that has been the case. Tottenham have defeated Manchester United and Ipswich Town while scoring five goals and conceding one since getting the trio of Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, and Guglielmo Vicario back, but this will be a test on a different level. Tottenham have had City's number over the years but winning a match like this would show that Spurs are well and truly moving in the right direction with the Europa League round of 16 around the corner.

Tottenham predicted XI: Guglielmo Vicario, Djed Spence, Ben Davies, Kevin Danso, Pedro Porro, Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, Heung-min Son, Mathys Tel

Manchester City: Now on a slide with getting knocked out of the Champions League and losing to Liverpool to fall further behind in league play, it's fair to question what City need to motivate the squad at this stage of the season. Things can get worse for them if they miss out on UCL next season but a bit of a break could also be good as this City side moves into rebuild territory.

Manchester City predicted XI: Ederson, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Omar Marmoush

Prediction

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City will face off in an English Premier League showdown on Wednesday. Spurs, who won the reverse fixture 4-0, are 13th in the EPL table and looking to stay hot after winning each of their last three league matches. Meanwhile, Manchester City are fighting to finish inside the top four and desperate to turn their fortunes around after dropping two of their last three league games.

Kickoff from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London is at 2:30 p.m. ET. Man City are listed as the +100 favorites (risk $100 to win $100) in the latest Tottenham vs. Man City odds, with Spurs as the +230 underdogs. A draw is priced at +300 and the over/under for total goals scored is 3.5. Before locking in any Tottenham vs. Man City picks, you need to see what proven SportsLine soccer expert Martin Green has to say.

After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer picks, including Euro qualifying (+6.30 units). The EFL Cup (+4.47), the FA Cup (+3.07) and the Champions League (+3.05) among others. Anyone who follows him at sportsbooks or on betting apps could be way up.

Here are Green's Premier League picks and predictions for Tottenham vs. Man City on Wednesday:

Under 3.5 goals (+100)

The Under has hit in each of Spurs' last three home games, including a 1-0 win against Manchester United on Jan. 26. Green also notes that Under 3.5 goals has hit in each of Spurs' last nine home matches against Man City across all competitions, and three of the last four meetings between these teams have also included a clean sheet. Man City failed to score against Liverpool in their last outing and could be without star striker Erling Haaland (knee), who has scored 19 goals in league play.

The Pick: Under 3.5 goals (+100)

Bonus picks: Get two additional best bets, both of which offer plus-money payouts, for Liverpool vs. Newcastle (3:15 p.m. ET) from SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer.

James Maddison over 0.5 shots on target (+100)

The 28-year-old attacking midfielder has already gotten the better of Man City this season. In the reverse fixture at Etihad Stadium, he scored twice in the opening 20 minutes en route to a 4-0 away win. Maddison missed time due to injury this season but has returned in fine form and scored the game-winning goal against Manchester United on Feb. 16.

The Pick: James Maddison over 0.5 shots on target (+100)

Bonus picks: Get two additional best bets, both of which offer plus-money payouts, for Liverpool vs. Newcastle (3:15 p.m. ET) from SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer.

Want more soccer picks for Wednesday, Feb. 26?

You've seen Martin Green's best bets for Tottenham vs. Man City. Now, get two additional best bets, both of which offer plus-money payouts, for Liverpool vs. Newcastle (3:15 p.m. ET) from SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer.