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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.

Tottenham Hotspur could be ready to pounce after a Crystal Palace star made a big decision on his future ahead of the summer window.

Xavi Simons has found his feet in the Premier League over recent months, but there is still a big question mark over James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, who are both recovering from a long-term injury layoff.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that either of them will return as the same players they were before their injuries.

Amidst this uncertainty, it has now emerged that Spurs are turning their attention to a Premier League attacking midfielder, who is out of contract this summer.

Tottenham interested in signing Daichi Kamada as a free agent

According to Sports Boom, Tottenham are one of several clubs interested in a deal for Daichi Kamada, who is in the final few months of his contract at Selhurst Park.

The report reveals that the Japanese international had stalled talks with Palace over a new deal until Oliver Glasner decided on his future.

With Glasner now set to leave Selhurst Park in the summer, Kamada has told Palace that he will not be renewing his deal.

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This has put a number of potential suitors on high alert, including Tottenham and Aston Villa, who are both fans of the midfielder.

European giants have already held talks with Kamada

SportsBoom have revealed that Milan are also interested in snapping up the 29-year-old as a free agent this summer.

Kamada could sign a pre-contract agreement with non-English sides ahead of the summer window and the Rossoneri want to ‘move quickly to strike a deal’ for the player.

The outlet asserts that ‘tentative talks’ have already been held between the Milan chiefs and the former Eintracht Frankfurt men’s representatives regarding a switch to San Siro.

Micky van de Ven admits that the situation Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in this season is unacceptable and names the players who need to step up to get the club out of this mess.

It has been repeatedly asserted by several pundits over recent weeks that Tottenham are not too good to go down, and that relegation is a very real possibility for the Lilywhites.

That is something most Spurs fans would not argue with, especially given the club’s poor record at home going back to last season.

The club will hope that Igor Tudor can galvanise the squad, and the new Spurs interim boss is certainly confident that the club will stay up.

Micky van de Ven admits Tottenham’s league position is ‘unacceptable’

According to reports, relegation could have devastating financial consequences for Spurs, leaving the club in a major black hole.

Van de Ven has admitted that the players are just as disappointed as the fans with the way this campaign has gone and insisted that they will do everything to turn things around.

Speaking before the Arsenal game, the Dutchman told Sky Sports: “If you are a club like Tottenham Hotspur, you have this quality of place (training ground), and you are, what I say, as big as the most, it’s unacceptable that you’re standing at this place on the table, and the results need to be way, way better.

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“It’s fair that [the fans] are disappointed, but they need to know, as well, that we keep working every day and day out to do everything about changing this around, because even for us, the vibes in the dressing room, the vibes after the games, if we lose, the meetings, it’s tough. It’s really tough. So we do everything to turn things around.”

Van de Ven admits he and four Spurs teammates need to step up

The Netherlands international admitted that experienced voices like himself, Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario need to step up and provide leadership at this crisis period for the club.

Van de Ven stressed the need for togetherness in the Spurs squad as they aim to get themselves out of trouble.

When asked if the role of the leaders at Spurs becomes even more valuable during the current injury crisis, the 24-year-old said: “Of course, we still have some quality players left. We have a really talented squad and some top players, but we also miss some key players for us, and it’s really important for the players who are fit right now to step up.”

“You have some young players, obviously, in the group, and you can’t really ask them to be the guys that need to push us forward. So, then, normally, I have Cuti next to me, who is now unfortunately suspended, but you have [Guglielmo] Vic behind me, who has a lot of experience, Joao Palhinha, in the midfield, who has a lot of experience, [Dominic] Solanke, who has a lot of experience.

“So you have some experience in the group, and then you just need to make sure that all the young guys speak out – just get everyone together. And I think that’s now most important, especially with the injuries we have.”