Jamie O'Hara PASSIONATELY pinpoints why Spurs are in relegation danger
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The Champions League last-16 picture is becoming clearer ahead of Friday's draw.
Newcastle know they will face Chelsea or Barcelona after seeing off Qarabag in their playoff. They won 9-3 on aggregate.
Newcastle will also find out on Friday if Tottenham or Liverpool are potential quarter-final opponents and whether they are on course for a potential semi-final with Manchester City or Arsenal.
Champions League fixtures
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Also on Tuesday night, Atletico Madrid set up a last-16 tie with either Tottenham or Liverpool.
Bodo/Glimt eliminated Inter Milan and will face either Manchester City or Sporting. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen will play Bayern Munich or Arsenal.
What's decided on Wednesday...
On Wednesday, the names in the hat for the last-16 will be confirmed.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain hold a 3-2 lead before hosting Monaco, with the winner set to face Chelsea or Barcelona.
Galatasaray have a 5-2 advantage over Juventus for the chance to play Liverpool or Tottenham.
Real Madrid lead Benfica 1-0 and can set up a tie with Sporting or Manchester City.
And Borussia Dortmund will aim to capitalise on their 2-0 lead over Atalanta for the right to play Arsenal or Bayern Munich.
The Champions League tree - and when English sides could meet
At the start of the week, the English sides which progressed to the last 16 knew their opponents would be one of four sides. With the midweek play-offs concluding, that will be down to two for Friday's draw.
The earliest opportunity for two English sides to meet is in the last 16, when Newcastle could come up against Chelsea.
The earliest opportunity for any other all-English meetings is in the quarter-finals, when Manchester City could meet Arsenal and Chelsea or Newcastle could meet Tottenham or Liverpool.
Friday's draw - what you need to know
On Friday February 27, the draw for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be made.
Follow live coverage of the draw on Friday on the Sky Sports website and app from 11am.
Teams can play opponents from their own country and opponents they have already faced in the competition.
However, the sides which didn't require a play-off will be seeded, meaning they get to play the second leg of their last-16 ties at home.
Arsenal - by virtue of topping the league phase standings - will get to play the second leg at home for as far as they progress in the competition.
When will fixture dates be announced?
The round of 16 match schedule will be available on Friday evening.
The quarter-final match schedule will be confirmed on March 19, while the semi-final schedule will be communicated on April 16.
When are the 2025/26 Champions League knockout stages?
Knockout play-offs: February 17-18 and 24-25
Round of 16 draw: February 27
Round of 16: March 10-11 and 17-18
Quarter-finals: April 7-8 and 14-15
Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6
Final: Saturday May 30
Where is the Champions League final?
The 2025/26 Champions League final will take place in Budapest at the Puskas Arena on Saturday May 30.
How many English teams could be in Champions League 26/27?
The Premier League is in an extremely strong position to have its top five clubs playing in the Champions League next season.
The top four sides qualify for the Champions League but an extra two places are awarded to clubs from countries whose teams have the best record in European club competitions this season.
England is currently at the top of UEFA's coefficient table and all its nine clubs are still in the three European competitions.
England's co-efficient at the moment is 21.513, 4.913 points ahead of third-placed Portugal who are on 16.600.
The coefficient is calculated by awarding points and dividing the total by the number of clubs each country has playing in Europe.
Each win is worth two points, there is one point for a draw and there are bonus points for progressing in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
England were one of two countries who were awarded an extra slot last season, with Newcastle United getting a place in the Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League.
If English sides continue to do well in Europe this season, fifth place in the Premier League is almost certain to be rewarded with a Champions League place, which could be good news for clubs such as Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Qualifying for the Champions League in its new expanded format means English clubs can expect to make tens of millions of pounds from playing in the 36-team league phase.
According to financial blogger Swiss Ramble, Manchester City and Liverpool have made £84m each so far this season, Arsenal £83m, Chelsea £80m and Spurs £73m.
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The top stories and transfer rumours from Tuesday's newspapers...
Premier League
Darwin Nunez could make a surprising Premier League return this summer, merely a year after departing Liverpool for Al-Hilal, with Tottenham and Newcastle reportedly interested - Daily Express.
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MLS is a potential next destination for Manchester United midfielder Casemiro when he becomes a free agent and leaves Old Trafford at the end of the season - Daily Express.
Newcastle United are looking at a major regeneration project as part of a plan to build a new stadium next to St James' Park - Daily Telegraph.
Former Liverpool star Emile Heskey has earmarked PSG ace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah - Daily Mirror.
EFL
Norwich City teenager Ajay Tavares has completed his move to Spanish champions Barcelona - Daily Mail.
Scotland
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has now shot to the top of the bookies' odds as the new favourite to be appointed the next Celtic manager - Scottish Sun.
World football
Orlando City is in advanced discussions over a move for Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann for their open designated player spot - The Atheltic.
England's World Cup group game has been plunged into chaos after a US stadium licence row threatened to pull matches at Gillette Stadium - Daily Mirror.
Five-second countdowns for throw-ins and goal-kicks are poised to make their debut at this summer's World Cup, as football's governing bodies gear up to introduce a series of measures aimed at accelerating the pace of play - Daily Express.
Zinedine Zidane has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to become the new manager of France after the World Cup - Daily Mirror.
World Cup minnows Curacao have suffered a major blow with veteran coach Dick Advocaat stepping down four months before the tournament - The Sun.
The planned World Cup fan zone in New York has been cancelled - in the latest blow to the tournament - The Sun.
Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn says her leg could have been amputated if not for the heroics of her doctor as she reflected on her horror crash at the Winter Olympics after finally leaving hospital - Independent.
Cricket
Former England vice-captain Moeen Ali says cricketers should 'speak up' amid concerns Pakistani players will be excluded by teams in The Hundred with owners from the Indian Premier League - The Times.
Ali has also warned that players will take action if they believe that Pakistani signings are being boycotted by Indian owners in the Hundred, saying such discriminative behaviour "can't happen in the UK." - Daily Telegraph.
Racing
An inner-city teenager breaking class boundaries in racing was cheered on by the Queen on his first day as a jockey - Daily Telegraph.
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Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres were both at the double for Arsenal as they tormented Tottenham in a 4-1 win in the North London derby.
The win moves the Gunners five points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in-hand, in a performance full of intent and aggression following their 2-2 draw with Wolves in midweek.
Gary Neville said: "This result is just what Mikel Arteta would have wanted to quieten down the noise after those last few results."
Arsenal won the first meeting this season 4-1 with Eze scoring three of the four and he saved his best for Spurs again, scoring the opener when hooking home from close range. It was his first goal since that famous treble in November.
Arsenal had full control but allowed Spurs back in almost instantly as 24 seconds after the restart Declan Rice was caught in possession which allowed Randal Kolo Muani to nip in and finish powerfully.
Gyokeres restored Arsenal's lead - capping a complete performance from the striker - before Eze popped up again to sweep home a rebound to make it 3-1.
Spurs did think they had levelled the game at 2-2 before Eze's second when Kolo Muani fired home but it was chalked off by referee Peter Bankes for a push on Gabriel, a decision that wasn't overturned by VAR.
As it happened | Teams | Stats
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With Arsenal cruising to three points, Gyokeres put extra gloss on the win during injury time, netting his second.
The away fans taunted the Spurs fans with chants of "going down, going down" and "we'll never play you again" as their rivals remain just four points off the relegation zone.
'Arsenal in a different league to Spurs - and could be next season!'
Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:
"They were magnificent today. You just felt there was control about this Arsenal side.
"It was a complete mismatch. They were in different leagues, Arsenal were so classy. They were so much better than Tottenham, it was like two different leagues.
"If Tottenham aren't careful, they might be in a different league. They cannot keep performing like this.
"Gyokeres led the line, Eze was wonderful. It was a brilliant performance. Arsenal were fantastic, too good for Tottenham."
Tudor very 'sad' and 'angry' with derby defeat
Spurs boss Igor Tudor said:
"We need more time to be in a physical moment and physical situation that we can go strong and take the ball. Now we are not in that moment.
"Even with the ball, a lack of confidence is very evident in the team. So we wanted and prepared to do the things but there is an opponent, there is a reality today. So I'm very sad and very angry and everything but in one way it is also good to understand where is our goal.
"What is the goal of this club? What is the goal of this team? What is this goal of this coach, these players, this staff? To become serious. Serious, not just a group of 20 players, and the medicine is you look in the mirror. Each of us look in the mirror and really try, really start to change the habits."
Van de Ven: Arsenal were the better team
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven to Sky Sports:
"I think Arsenal overall was the better team. The first half we were still in the game, it was 1-1. Two minutes after half-time, they scored to make it 2-1 and after that it was really difficult.
"I think maybe sometimes in the press we could have done a bit better. We pressed them quite high but Arsenal came out of it a few times and it's difficult to come back quick.
"Today they were just the better team, they created way more than us."
Story of the match in stats...
What's coming up in the Premier League?
'Shock of the century?' However you frame it - relegation out of the Premier League is now a very real possibility for Tottenham.
Another north London derby thrashing at home on Sunday left Spurs reeling in 16th, just four points above a West Ham side who edged closer to them over the weekend.
Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal - Match report & reaction
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With 11 games to go, Spurs are at crisis point. The Premier League ever-presents haven't won any of their last nine top-flight games and need a serious shift in form to salvage their status.
Fearful form
Their recent record is miserable. While the Champions League has been a welcome distraction and provided the platform for encouraging results, Spurs' showings in the Premier League have their supporters seriously concerned.
Across the past dozen matches, Tottenham have the worst form of any side in the division. A win at Crystal Palace and comeback draw against Man City is all there is to shout about during a spell which has seen them take just seven points.
Nottingham Forest and West Ham, the sides immediately below them in the standings, have recorded 12 points each across the same period to make up five points on their gaps to Spurs.
If those three sides maintain similar trajectories, Tottenham's final two games of the season - a trip to Chelsea and then home game with Everton - could prove to be must-win.
Injury issues
Of course, any assessment of Spurs' struggles requires a mention of their horrendous injury issues this season. In fact, it's the second season in a row they've seen key players sidelined.
Right now, they are missing more players than any other Premier League side, with 11 players unavailable.
Captain Cristian Romero was suspended for the derby but the long-term absences of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have clearly contributed to an underwhelming attacking output this season, while Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert are now missing too.
Spurs' squad is seriously stretched and, in the coming weeks, will have to juggle a Champions League knockout bid in tandem with a relegation battle.
Last season, Ange Postecoglou was able to manage his injury-hit group by focusing fully on Europe and allowing the team's league form to slide. Igor Tudor has no such luxury this time.
'Bad habits'
But perhaps his biggest problem to solve will be Spurs' mentality issue.
"There were too many bad habits in the past," he said after the loss to Arsenal, reflecting a mindset at the club which has been criticised by recent managers Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank.
"Nobody can tell me we don't have quality," said Tudor. "But we need to change, a mental switch and have this mental sharpness to be in the game from the first and second minutes and have the physicality."
Flicking that switch will not be straightforward, considering the pressure of Spurs' situation.
"It is a team devoid of personality," said former Spurs captain and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp. "They have to somehow show some character."
Favourable fixtures?
They say there are no easy games in the Premier League - and there are certainly no easy games for Tottenham right now.
But the fixture list is in their favour. Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Burnley all have more difficult games left to play than Spurs, based on opposition league position.
Although, given Spurs took just two points from their most recent games against the four sides below them in the league, they can take no fixture for granted.
A reason for hope...
The expert opinion suggests alarm bells need to be ringing in north London.
"If Tottenham aren't careful, they might be in a different league," said Redknapp. "They cannot keep performing like this."
Neville said: "They've underdelivered for a number of years, they've never found the right formula to get it right and this is the second season on the trot that they're in this type of position.
"It's not a fluke anymore. This is a pattern of what you are and it would be the shock of the century. It would be absolutely mind-blowing to think that they could disappear out of this league, but I don't think they will."
That note of optimism from Neville is backed up by Opta's supercomputer, which reckons there is just a 4.4 per cent chance of Spurs going down.
Spurs fans may not feel so confident...
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Igor Tudor has called on relegation-threatened Tottenham to shed their "bad habits" and become "serious" after they were thrashed 4-1 at home to Arsenal in his first game in charge.
Spurs' latest north London hammering has plunged them further into trouble as they sit four points above the bottom three and remain the only team in the Premier League to have not won a game in 2026.
Tudor, who has been parachuted in to save Spurs' season, remains convinced they will stay up, but delivered some home truths about the squad he has inherited from Thomas Frank.
Arsenal move five clear at top as Eze and Gyokeres torment Spurs
Redknapp: Arsenal in different league to Spurs - and could be next season
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"I know the truth [about this team], now I saw the truth. It's not nice, but it is how it is," Tudor told Sky Sports.
"Of course, I am confident [of survival]. I believe these are good players with bad habits.
"Nobody can tell me we don't have quality. But we need to change a mental switch and have this mental sharpness to be in the game from the first minutes and also the physicality to do this.
"To be physical, you need to work hard, otherwise it's a problem. Too many players had problems. That's the result."
Asked what he learned about his team, Tudor said: "That we need to work. Too many bad habits in the past. We need to look at ourselves, grow and be humble.
"We need to run more, play better, defend better, win duels, second balls.
"The players wanted [it], they showed passion, wanted to run, but when we pressed high, they don't arrive or take the ball in a block.
"[Arsenal] are strong, they have more power, more energy and they believe more. That's the key in the end."
'What is Spurs' goal? To become serious'
With 11 games remaining to retain their Premier League status, Tudor says Tottenham must "become serious" and change their habits.
"We need more time to be in a physical moment and physical situation where we can go strong and take the ball. Now we are not in that moment," he said.
"Even with the ball, a lack of confidence is very evident in the team.
"We wanted and prepared to do the things but there is an opponent, there is a reality today. I'm very sad and very angry and everything, but in one way it is also good to understand where our goal is. What is the goal of this club? What is the goal of this team? What is the goal of this coach, these players, this staff?
"To become serious. Serious, not just a group of 20 players, and the medicine is you look in the mirror. Each of us look in the mirror and really try, really start to change the habits.
"We didn't need this game for sure. Arsenal are probably the best team now in the world so it was not easy.
"I also played a lot of derbies and as a coach, they give you something more like mentality or motivation but there are also other things that you cannot change in the three or four training sessions - it's impossible."