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Wayne Rooney has delivered a blunt verdict on Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation fears following their heavy defeat to Arsenal, offering a clear assessment of where Spurs stand.

There is no hiding place now for this group of Tottenham Hotspur players, who find themselves struggling under yet another manager following the sacking of Thomas Frank.

Igor Tudor took charge of his first match as Spurs interim manager, and it was a baptism of fire, with Arsenal turning the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into a stomping ground, beating Tottenham 4-1.

It was a disastrous second half for the Croatian manager, who saw his side crumble after putting up a fight in the first half, where they went in 1-1 at the break.

Tottenham relegation verdict as Wayne Rooney reacts after Arsenal defeat

Relegation is now the bitter reality for Tottenham, who find themselves four points off 18th-placed West Ham United.

Spurs are 16th in the league and desperately need to get points on the board if they are to create some daylight between themselves, Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

Tudor claimed that he is 100 per cent certain Tottenham will avoid the drop, and now Wayne Rooney has shared a similar sentiment.

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Speaking to BBC Sport, Rooney gave his verdict on Spurs’ survival hopes and said: “Yeah, I think they will be fine. I do not think they will get relegated. I think for West Ham to pick up points will be difficult. But they are down there.

“They are down there, and they were there last season. A little bit closer to the relegation zone this season. So yeah, I think they will be fine, and I think they are just about good enough not to get relegated.”

Spurs warned against complacency as Wayne Rooney compares squad strength

Spurs cannot afford to get complacent, and everyone needs to be on their toes if they are to arrest their slump this season.

The Lilywhites are winless domestically in 2026 and have managed just two wins from their last 18 league outings.

Injuries have not helped their case, and that could well play a role in what is shaping up to be a three-horse relegation dogfight.

Rooney, however, believes Nottingham Forest has the stronger squad, even though he expects Spurs to avoid the drop.

Again speaking to BBC Sport, he added: “I think I was watching the Forest Liverpool game today, and Forest have got a better squad than Tottenham.

“They are in a similar position in the league. So, I think they are being a bit naive, whether that is the fans or the club, in thinking that they are a top 16 team. They are not, they are miles off it.”

We witnessed yet another defeat for Tottenham this weekend, but many would say the referee had a big impact on the North London Derby.

Spurs went into the game against Arsenal with tentatively high spirits, with Igor Tudor gearing up for his first outing as interim manager and the chance to derail the Gunners’ title charge in sight.

However, things didn’t go to plan. Despite the scores being level at half-time, the Lilywhites ended up on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline, and it became abundantly clear that Tottenham’s problems run deep.

It could all have been very different, though, had Randal Kolo Muani’s second goal not been chalked off for a controversial foul.

VAR made the right call on Tottenham’s second ‘goal’

Shortly after the break, Viktor Gyokeres scored a fine goal from outside the box to put the Gunners back in the lead. We didn’t have to wait too long for the ball to be in the back of the net again, though, with Kolo Muani slotting it past David Raya.

However, the goal was ruled out immediately, with the Spurs attacker adjudged to have pushed Arsenal defender Gabriel in the back before scoring.

It was a divisive call, with many claiming the Gunners man went down a little too easily. But, should Kolo Muani have been given the goal? Dermot Gallagher doesn’t think so.

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Gallagher told Sky Sports: “The referee gives it. The on-field decision is always going to stand, he thinks there is enough of a push. VAR is never going to say he’s got it wrong as the evidence is there.”

It’s a particularly frustrating one given Spurs were beaten by a Hugo Ekitike goal against Liverpool earlier this season, despite the Reds striker pushing Cristian Romero in the back. Once again, it’s the fact that there is no consistency across the decisions that is really making people angry.

Should Gabriel have been sent off for Randal Kolo Muani challenge?

Another incident involving Kolo Muani and Gabriel was also up for contention. In the first half, the Tottenham man appeared to be breaking through on goal, but Gabriel put his arm across to block Kolo Muani.

Some had suggested Gabriel could even have been sent off for a last-man foul, but the Arsenal man was instead given a free-kick after taking a tumble.

On that matter, Gallagher told Sky Sports: “I don’t think it’s a red card at all. If he gives a foul, I accept that. The ball runs through to the keeper. The striker isn’t in possession of the ball.

“I don’t think there’s any danger of him being sent off, but if he gives a foul, he can’t argue.”

Igor Tudor has revealed what he told the Tottenham Hotspur players after they were thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal in the North London Derby.

Tudor watched on as his new side were thrashed by their local rivals in his first game as interim Spurs head coach on Sunday.

The result served as a reality check to the Croatian coach, who boldly claimed ahead of kick-off that Tottenham would not be relegated this season.

However, the loss in the North London derby leaves the Lilywhites just four points off the bottom three, and Tudor now realises that he may have a lot more problems to solve than he anticipated.

Igor Tudor insists he saw ‘passion’ from Tottenham players against Arsenal

The 47-year-old has now revealed what he told the Tottenham players after their loss against their bitter rivals on Sunday.

Tudor insisted that there was no shortage of passion from his players, but confessed that they were not able to do the things that were expected of them.

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When asked what he told the Spurs squad after their 4-1 defeat, he said (via Football.London): “I saw the passion. I saw the will. So I was not angry because they wanted to do but then they were not able to do in this moment the things.

“They wanted to do all what we prepared so I said ‘that is good’ but we need to understand which moment we are now because we are not able to do. Why we are not able to do is the question we resolve and I speak from day one at the club I come here to resolve the problems.

“You believe that in three/four trainings you will do your best but when the game starts you don’t know what will happen because it is like this. But as I said before, Tuesday I come in. Everyone there.

“Stay humble that is the key. Stay humble that is the key of each of us and trying to become, what I said before, a team. A Squad. A hard-working team. That is the only goal we have now in this moment.”

Tudor may regret his Spurs relegation statement

As Spurs fans would be well aware, Tudor confidently asserted that Tottenham would stay up in his first press conference as the interim head coach last week.

While one can understand why the Croat wanted the players to stop worrying about relegation and focus on pushing themselves back up the table, Sunday’s performance may have come as a reality check for the new interim head coach as well.

One wonders if he will be so confident about Tottenham’s relegation prospects after watching his players on Sunday.

Dele Alli made an emotional statement to the Spurs faithful on his return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Dele was the special guest for the North London derby, and the attacking midfielder received a fantastic reception from the fans.

The 29-year-old continues to be a fan favourite at Tottenham, having given Spurs fans some fantastic memories during his time at the club, especially during the heyday under Mauricio Pochettino.

The England international has had a few failed attempts to get his career back on track over recent years and is currently a free agent after being released by Como, but he has hinted that he could be back out on the pitch very soon.

Dele Alli admits he has missed Tottenham fans a lot

The midfielder’s return was a rare bright spot in what was a disappointing afternoon for Tottenham, who were thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal.

Dele admitted that he will always consider Spurs his ‘family’ and revealed that he expects to be back playing soon.

The midfielder said (via The Sun): “I can’t wait to get back on the pitch playing, hopefully it won’t be too long now. I hope you’ve missed me as much as I’ve missed you. A lot has happened in our journeys since we were last together, but I’m back today, and I hope you know that you’ll always be my family.”

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Where will Dele play next?

Over the last few months, there have been rumours that Dele has received several contract offers from La Liga clubs.

However, more recently, it has been reported that the former Tottenham midfielder could return to where it all started for him.

Igor Tudor got a reality check about Tottenham’s current level after seeing his side decimated by Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday.

The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was much more positive than we have seen for much of this season, with the supporters getting behind the team in what is the start of a new era.

The players certainly responded in the first period, playing with intensity and managing to level the score almost instantly after the away side took the lead in the first period.

However, it was a different story when the players came out of the tunnel for the second-half, with Arsenal putting three more goals past the home side, whose defending left a lot to be desired.

Igor Tudor admits Tottenham’s loss against Arsenal showed him the current reality

The Croat admitted that the game on the 4-1 defeat showed the gap between the two sides and where Tottenham stand right now.

He also revealed that he made it clear to the Spurs players that he expects them to work harder than they have when they return to training on Tuesday.

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When asked if Sunday’s result shows the scale of his challenge or the quality of Arsenal, Tudor responded (via Football.London): “Both things. Both things. Big gap in this specific moment between the two teams. It was too much Arsenal for us in this moment with the problems we have. Also it’s nice to understand where we are because you prepare in the best possible way then there is the game to show you reality.

“So it’s nice from one point of view so each of us understand and come, as I said the players, stay quiet they come on Tuesday and restart after these three or four training sessions to start to work harder than we did until now. To change our habits, to change the state of mind which is now as a team. It is the only way to work.”

When asked what he thought of Tottenham’s defesive performance, Tudor said: “Too much problems in this moment to let this level of team not punish you. Because you wanted to go to press high but to press high from back, you need to jump, so if you are late and don’t take the ball around there, also with the ball. So we prepare to press high, but we didn’t take the ball. So 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.”

Tudor admits he sensed a lack of confidence among the Spurs players

The 47-year-old confessed that it was evident his players were lacking confidence in possession and called on the squad to look in the mirror.

He suggested that the only way Tottenham can improve is by working hard and the players changing their bad habits.

Tudor added: “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. Working hard is the only way.”

Tottenham Hotspur remain in a Premier League fight for survival after a diabolical display against Arsenal, making it difficult to find positives from Igor Tudor’s first game in charge.

However, there were one or two signs that the Croatian might be able to improve Spurs once he spends a bit more time familiaring himself with the squad.

Let’s take a look at the three winners and losers from one can only be described as an absolute hammering.

Randal Kolo Munai scored his first Premier League goal

Randal Kolo Muani has finally opened his goalscoring account in the Premier League after a very well taken equaliser against Arsenal.

The Frenchman was unlucky not to have a second, as he had the ball in the back of the net. Unfortunately, his goal was ruled out as he was deemed to have pushed Gabriel in the back, causing the defender to leap rather dramatically to the ground.

Regardless of this, Muani has finally shown signs that he can replicate his Champions League form in England and he may well have been helped by Tudor’s arrival.

Radu Dragusin had a good first half for Tottenham

Radu Dragusin made 20 defensive contributions during the North London derby, which was 11 more than Micky van de Ven.

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The Romanian played quite well across the opening 45 minutes and appeared to hold his own against the Premier League leaders.

This was not the case so much in the second half, as Dragusin made an error which led to a goal and looked out of his depth. However, one good half is better than nothing.

Thomas Frank was not the only issue at Tottenham

Thomas Frank may be feeling a little vindicated after Tottenham’s dreadful 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, as it shows he was just one of many problems.

Tudor had the best part of a week to prepare for the fixture and eventually Spurs ended up looking just as hopeless as they were under Frank’s leadership.

Time will tell if parting ways with the Dane was the correct decision, but nothing much has changed after his first match away from the club.

Now let’s take a look at the three losers…

Djed Spence was appalling against Arsenal

Djed Spence started over Souza as expected, but Tudor may be left regretting this decision based on the English international’s rotten performance.

From inaccurate passes to unsuccessful dribbles, it is hard to see what Spence did which actually ended up helping his team.

The right wing-back failed to provide any attacking threat and he lost a staggering 12 ground duels during the game, as well as being the player at fault for one of Arsenal’s goals.

Conor Gallagher made no impact on the North London derby

No true Tottenham fan would wish harm on Rodrigo Bentancur, but a good number of them were relieved when the Uruguayan was ruled out with an injury.

However, Spurs went and signed Conor Gallagher as his replacement, another player who has done very little for the side.

Gallagher is a decent enough central midfielder, but Tottenham need a more progressive option who will push the team forwards and the 26-year-old is simply not that player. His performance against Arsenal was uninspiring and ineffective.

Joao Palhinha should not play as a Tottenham centre-back

Other than the odd sliding challenge, Joao Palhinha did not get an awful lot right in the Spurs defence on Sunday.

This was not the first time the 30-year-old has played at centre-back this season, but it should probably be the last based on his performance.

It looked certain earlier in the campaign that Tottenham would make Palhinha a permanent signing this summer, but this is surely in doubt now.

Cristian Romero has been suspended since his red card against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will be eager for his return after a dreadful result in the North London derby.

Tottenham Hotspur began a new era on Sunday with interim manager Igor Tudor taking charge of the team for the first time.

Unfortunately, the Croatian was unable to mastermind a result in the North London derby as Spurs were thrashed 4-1 by their bitter rivals.

In fairness, there are still a number of players in the Tottenham first-team squad who are out of action, including Cristian Romero due to his ongoing suspension.

Cristian Romero will not play for Tottenham until mid-March

Romero’s initial suspension was four games instead of three, because he had already been shown a red card back in December against Liverpool.

The Argentine has now served half his ban, having missed Tottenham’s defeats against Newcastle and Arsenal.

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However, he will not be allowed to feature in their two upcoming London derbies against Fulham and Crystal Palace.

This means Romero will not play for Spurs again until March 15 at the earliest, when they take on Liverpool in what could prove to be another important Premier League fixture.

Romero is still important to Spurs

There have been moments this season when Romero has made mistakes, both in his defensive play and with displays of ill discipline.

Despite this, he is still an important player for Tottenham and is even their joint-second top scorer in the Premier League this season.

It is no coincidence that Spurs have lost three games where Romero has largely been absent, following a four-match unbeaten run.

Tottenham Hotspur’s fight for survival is intensifying, and with the fixtures piling up, the schedule could yet define who sinks and who survives. We have now compared Spurs’ fixtures with those of West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.

Relegation is now the sad reality for Tottenham Hotspur, whose winless 2026 continues after another Premier League defeat – this time at the hands of north London rivals Arsenal.

That defeat marked the first time Spurs have lost three games in a row in the Premier League this season and was also their fourth consecutive defeat in a north London derby.

Tottenham now have just two wins in 18 games, and it is no surprise that four points is the difference between themselves and 18th-placed West Ham United, who have started to pick up points in their own games.

At the moment, at least three teams are firmly in the relegation battle, with Spurs in 16th, Nottingham Forest in 17th and West Ham United in 18th.

Winning games now is crucial for each of these sides if they are to avoid going down, and we have compared the fixtures of the three teams.

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Tottenham fixtures compared to West Ham United and Nottingham Forest’s relegation run-in

Tottenham Hotspur’s next five Premier League fixtures:

West Ham United’s next five Premier League fixtures:

Micky van de Ven did not hide from the reality of Tottenham’s latest derby defeat, admitting Arsenal were superior on the day as Spurs’ difficult run continued under new boss Igor Tudor.

It was a disappointing outing for Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as they suffered another painful defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Arsenal.

The latest loss means Mikel Arteta’s men completed the double over Spurs, winning 4–1 at both the Emirates Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season.

It also compounded Spurs’ 2026 misery, as their winless domestic run continued, marking a disastrous start to life for Igor Tudor, who will have hoped his side would show greater fighting spirit in his first match in charge.

Tottenham captain Micky van de Ven reacts to Arsenal defeat

It was a game of two halves, with Spurs competitive before the break but falling away badly in the second period.

Two goals from Eberechi Eze and a Viktor Gyokeres brace were enough for the Gunners to take all three points and extend their lead at the top of the table to five points.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven admitted Arsenal were the better side and reflected on where the game slipped away, particularly after the restart.

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He said: “Arsenal were the better team. We were still in the game at 1-1 but after the second half, they scored straight away and then it was really difficult.

“We could do the press a bit better. We pressed high but Arsenal came out of it. It’s something we need to work on. They were the better team today.

“It’s a risk when you go man for man and if one man is late then you’re going to be open but when you win the ball high, there are so many options for us. But on the opposite, when they come out, it’s a big risk.”

Tottenham relegation fight looms as Micky van de Ven backs Igor Tudor

A relegation fight is now very much Tottenham’s reality this season, with 11 games to play. Spurs need to start picking up points if they are to secure their Premier League status for next season.

Van de Ven also discussed what Tudor has been like since taking charge eight days ago, outlining the intensity of work on the training ground.

Speaking in the same interview, he explained how the new head coach has approached his first week and what the focus is ahead of Fulham.

He said: “He is on us all week. Every day we worked on it. It’s his first week and he wants to help us in every way. We have all the week to prepare for Fulham.

“We need to win the games. Step by step. We play Fulham now.”

Tottenham Hotspur have received some good news regarding their rumoured pursuit of Michael Carrick ahead of the summer.

According to reports, Igor Tudor is not likely to be made permanent Tottenham manager unless something extraordinary happens over the coming months.

Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi are among the leading contenders to take over at Spurs in the summer, but another former Tottenham midfielder is also thought to be under consideration for the role.

It was reported last week that Spurs could make a shock move for Michael Carrick after being impressed with his work as an interim at Man United.

Tottenham give Michael Carrick hope as Man United’s stance is revealed

Spurs’ hopes of landing the 44-year-old will depend on United passing up the opportunity to appoint him permanently.

TEAMtalk have now revealed that sources at United continue to insist that Carrick is not the front-runner to be the club’s long-term manager.

While the Old Trafford hierarchy are satisfied with the work that the English coach has done, he is currently not being viewed as the favourite for the job.

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The report says that Carrick will simply not be handed the role based on the team’s short-term improvement, and the Red Devils are continuing background work on alternative managerial options.

One factor could dictate Man United’s decision on Carrick

TEAMtalk say that United achieving Champions League qualification may ‘accelerate’ the process of Carrick being appointed as the permanent head coach.

The outlet claims that while the former Spurs midfielder is building an appetite for the role, United are determined not to rush their decision.

A clearer picture of the club’s alternatives to Carrick and their top managerial targets will emerge by the end of April.