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Igor Tudor has delivered a blunt verdict on his Tottenham side after their latest defeat at the hands of Arsenal in the Premier League.

It was far from the perfect start for Tottenham Hotspur’s new boss, Igor Tudor, who was appointed a few days ago following the sacking of Thomas Frank earlier in the week.

Tudor’s first game was against Spurs’ bitter rivals Arsenal who visited Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the 199th north London derby, and it was the Gunners who emerged victorious.

A tightly contested first half saw Tottenham head into the break at 1-1 after Randal Kolo Muani quickly cancelled out Eberechi Eze’s opener.

However, Arsenal stepped it up after the interval, with Eze adding his second and a Viktor Gyokeres brace sealing a 4-1 win for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Tottenham boss Igor Tudor delivers damning verdict after Arsenal defeat

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, the Tottenham interim manager acknowledged the gulf between the sides and admitted the visitors were superior on the day.

He began by reflecting on the challenge his players faced and Arsenal’s physical and mental edge, before then stating that this Spurs side is a team with problems.

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He said: “Difficult start against a team who is now in this moment.

“A different level of physical state of mind, so congratulations to them. They were much better and they deserve this win. I got the spirit which we wanted to do things, but it was not enough. It is nice to understand where we are in this moment.”

The Croatian then addressed the work required on the training ground and the issues within the squad, insisting improvement must come through hard graft. He added: “It showed me on Tuesday that we need to work hard and work hard and seriously.

“Now in this moment, the team is full of problems. The only key is to work on the training day by day and be humble. We need to be more aggressive – we need to be more compact. These are the keys.

“You understand the gap with the mental sharpness of one team and other teams. This is a thing we need to change. I saw players available to do this, but we need more time to do this.

“Thinking about relegation does not bring you anything to anybody.”

Tottenham relegation fears grow despite Igor Tudor’s defiance

It is difficult to ask these players, or anyone associated with Tottenham, not to think about a relegation scrap as Spurs are being dragged closer with each passing week.

Before a ball was kicked this matchweek, the gap between Tottenham and the relegation zone was five points, but West Ham United’s draw with Bournemouth cut it to four.

Tudor has stated he is 100 per cent certain Tottenham will avoid relegation this season, yet on current evidence, the task looks tougher than it first appeared.

Spurs are back on the road in the Premier League next with a trip to Fulham and it will be a tough task for them as Marco Silva’s men come into that encounter off the back of a 3-1 win over Sunderland.

Tottenham Hotspur began the post-Thomas Frank era with a defeat, as Arsenal put four past Spurs to pile on their 2026 winless misery.

Let’s take a look at five things we learned from Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal:

Igor Tudor tastes defeat in first Tottenham outing

The post-Thomas Frank era did not go according to plan for Tottenham, who will have hoped Igor Tudor’s appointment would spark a bounce.

Instead, it was more misery for Spurs, a repeat of the reverse fixture at the Emirates, as Arsenal beat Tudor’s side 4-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That makes four defeats in a row in the north London derby and the first time Tottenham have lost three consecutive matches this season.

Tudor arrived with a near flawless record when taking over sides mid-season, having started impressively with both Juventus and Lazio, but his start at Spurs was far from what he would have expected in what can only be described as a wrenching defeat.

Tottenham need to look downwards

If any fan doubted whether Tottenham are in a relegation scrap, this latest outing sets reality straight, with Spurs four points above 18th.

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The Lilywhites must now keep a close eye on developments at the foot of the table as it becomes a full-on battle to avoid the drop.

Of the three sides fighting to stay up, West Ham United were the only ones to earn a point this matchweek following a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.

Nottingham Forest lost late on to Liverpool thanks to an Alexis Mac Allister strike, while Spurs suffered a defeat against Arsenal.

Next up for Tottenham is another London derby away at Craven Cottage, while West Ham face Liverpool and Forest take on Brighton.

Awful refereeing decisions prove costly once again

The focus for Tottenham will be to regroup and respond next weekend against Fulham. However, many Spurs supporters will feel aggrieved by some of the refereeing decisions on display.

I mean, Randal Kolo Muani’s second, which would have been an equaliser, was disallowed after a slight touch on the back of Gabriel.

This is the same Arsenal side that places several bodies around goalkeepers at corners, often impeding movement, but their players did not hesitate to hit the deck at the slightest opportunity this evening.

A slight touch and the goal is ruled out. It becomes even more frustrating when a similar goal was given against Spurs earlier in the season, when Hugo Ekitike did something similar to Cristian Romero and the goal stood.

Can Tudor get a tune out of Kolo Muani?

If there is any positive to take, it is Randal Kolo Muani’s display against the Gunners. The Frenchman pressed from the front, linked play well and was rewarded with a goal soon after Arsenal’s opener.

He could have made it two had his second not been disallowed. Tudor and Muani have previously worked together, and under the Croatian, the forward scored three goals in the six matches Tudor was in charge of last season.

That return followed a run of eight Serie A games without a goal before the Croat’s arrival. Perhaps this is the start of another resurgence for the Parisian.

Was the fight at least better post-Thomas Frank?

The questions among Tottenham supporters are numerous. Many will ask whether their side is truly in a relegation fight and, if so, whether they have what it takes to stay up.

There will also be doubts about what comes next and whether the post-Frank era will bring improvement.

The truth is, there were glimpses from this Tottenham side, particularly in a decent first-half display from a team low on confidence.

The second half was shambolic, with the defence all over the place, yet the intent from Tudor was evident as he made early attacking substitutions, unlike what was often seen under Frank.

What happens next remains to be seen, but it promises to be a long end to the season. At least it’s not until next week that Spurs either make or break our weekend again.

The full-time whistle has blown in the Premier League match between Tottenham and Arsenal, and it’s time for our player ratings.

Tottenham Hotspur fell apart in the second half of their north London derby encounter after going into the break at 1–1, with the Gunners taking all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, beating Spurs 4–1.

Let’s take a look at how the individual players got on:

Guglielmo Vicario – The Italian made a smart save in the first half when Bukayo Saka went through on goal, but there was little he could do to prevent Arsenal’s three strikes. 5.

Archie Gray – Booked in the first half for kicking the ball away after Tottenham’s equaliser, he endured a difficult second period as Spurs struggled defensively. There was little he could do to stem the tide. The teenager was well outmuscled by Gyokeres for Arsenal’s fourth. 4.

Joao Palhinha – A poor second-half outing from the Portuguese, who was barely tested before the break. He was dragged out of position on several occasions and did not recover well in the tackle. For Arsenal’s third, a disappointing mix-up saw Palhinha caught out. 4.

Radu Dragusin – The young centre-back impressed in the first half with several key blocks and clearances. After the restart, he looked far less assured, and his poor-headed clearance led directly to Arsenal’s third. 4.

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Micky van de Ven – A difficult evening for the Dutchman, who blocked when Saka struck for Arsenal’s second but could not prevent the goal as his block ricocheted down the path of Eze. The defence lost its shape in the second half, and there was little the captain could do. 5.

Djed Spence – Struggled to contain Saka in the first half, and it was more of the same after the interval, with the full-back often playing himself into trouble. He did come close to creating a chance for Richarlison late on in the second half after some nice play on the right, but the Brazilian’s effort was cleared off the line. 4.

Pape Matar Sarr – Applied pressure high up the pitch in the first half and helped Spurs fashion promising moments. The intensity dropped after the break as Arsenal stepped up a gear, though he did produce a couple of well-timed clearances. 5.

Yves Bissouma – Composed before the interval, breaking up play and disrupting Arsenal’s rhythm. For the Gunners’ second, however, he was absent as Viktor Gyokeres had time to control Jurrien Timber’s cross and finish. 5.

Xavi Simons – Combined well with Muani early in the second half and tested David Raya from the edge of the box, but the effort was comfortably dealt with. He continued to drive forward from deep without decisive impact, with his influence ultimately reducing as the game went on. 4.

Conor Gallagher – Operated deeper than usual rather than as a second striker, yet still looked to join attacks. His overlapping run and cross appeared to set up Muani for an equaliser, but the goal was ruled out. 5.

Randal Kolo Muani – Thought he had his second after finishing from Gallagher’s cross, only for the effort to be disallowed following a slight touch on Gabriel. Linked play well at times in a frustrating second half. 7.

Substitutes

Richarlison – Replaced goalscorer Randal Kolo Muani and led the line. He came close to grabbing Spurs’ second, but his effort was cleared off the line by Raya. 6.

Dominic Solanke – Introduced for Conor Gallagher after Arsenal’s third, though he had limited opportunity to influence proceedings. 5.

The half-time whistle has blown in the Premier League match between Tottenham and Arsenal, and it’s time for our player ratings.

Tottenham Hotspur head into the break with the score level at 1–1 after Eberechi Eze’s opener was cancelled out by Randal Kolo Muani’s equaliser.

Let’s take a look at how the individual players got on:

Guglielmo Vicario – Early on in the first half, the Italian found himself in no man’s land when he came off his line and outside his 18-yard box to attempt a headed interception from a long pass. His blushes were spared thanks to Radu Dragusin providing cover. He did make a fine stop later on in the half, after Saka ran in behind the Spurs backline and was clean on goal, looking to make it two for the Gunners. 6.

Archie Gray – With Pedro Porro still out, Gray has continued to put in shifts at full-back. He has had little to do so far, with most of Arsenal’s threat coming down their right through Bukayo Saka. On the ball, he has been tidy, although he was booked after Tottenham’s goal for kicking the ball away. 6.5.

Joao Palhinha – Deployed as a makeshift centre-back in this encounter, the midfielder has remained an outball during Spurs’ build-up but has often been forced to go long. He has also won a few aerial duels against Viktor Gyokeres. 5.5.

Radu Dragusin – The Romanian was alert early on, making a crucial block to deny a certain goal after Viktor Gyokeres’ header inside the box. He was called into action again when Vicario found himself stranded, once more in the right place to clear. He has focused on his defensive duties, producing several further tackles and clearances. 7.

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Micky van de Ven – He has started aggressively, putting in a few early sliding tackles while covering the left side of Tottenham’s defence alongside Djed Spence. 6.

Djed Spence – Tasked with marking Bukayo Saka, he has struggled, often caught in no man’s land when Arsenal attack down Spurs’ left. For the goal, he was nowhere near the scene, and he was again absent when Saka worked his way into the box and created a clear-cut chance for Trossard. 4.

Pape Matar Sarr – Operating in the pivot but also stepping out to press, he won the ball high up after a loose touch from Martin Zubimendi. His resulting effort was blocked. He should have been more aggressive in the duel leading to Arsenal’s opener. 6.5.

Yves Bissouma – The Malian has shown a willingness to tackle, break up play and disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm. A solid display so far. 7.

Xavi Simons – One of the two supporting Muani in the 3-4-2-1 shape, he has seen plenty of the ball. He has dropped deep to collect possession and drive forward, helping Spurs launch attacks. 7.

Conor Gallagher – The setup has seen him operate deeper rather than behind the striker. He has had to choose his moments to advance, though clear chances have not fallen his way. He has contributed defensively with a few clearances. 6.

The Tottenham Hotspur team selection for the Premier League fixture against Arsenal has been announced.

Tottenham Hotspur come into this afternoon’s encounter off the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United last time out in the Premier League.

That match took place 12 days ago, and Tottenham have not kicked a ball since, having been knocked out of the FA Cup and secured automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16.

The same, however, cannot be said of their bitter rivals Arsenal, who have played three times in that period but are winless in their last two Premier League outings.

Brentford held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw earlier in matchweek 26, before bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw a few days later.

Igor Tudor will be looking for a new manager bounce

New boss Igor Tudor will no doubt be desperate to add to Arsenal’s misery this evening as he aims to get his Tottenham career off to a positive start.

The Croatian, however, must do so without several first-team regulars, with only 13 senior players at his disposal for this encounter.

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Kevin Danso, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are all still unavailable for this clash.

Cristian Romero is suspended, while Pedro Porro has not recovered in time to make the matchday squad. Meanwhile, Destiny Udogie continues to nurse a hamstring injury and is unavailable for selection.

This is the Spurs team which takes to the field at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium today:

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Palhinha, Dragusin, Van de Ven; Gray, Bissouma, Sarr, Spence; Gallagher, Simons; Kolo Muani

Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Eze, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

Tottenham fans must get behind the players

Arsenal are gunning for the title, and a victory here will restore belief in Mikel Arteta’s side following their recent stumbles.

Tottenham, on the other hand, are looking to stay in the Premier League and must start putting three points on the board if they are to avoid the drop.

Many Spurs fans will not want to see their rivals end a 22-year wait for a Premier League title, which serves as extra motivation for Tottenham.

The supporters will get behind their side; now it must count as Spurs attempts to turn their season around.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes that Tottenham Hotspur may still be in danger of losing one of their key midfielders in the summer after rebuffing January interest.

With Spurs on course for another poor league finish again this season, there are worries in N17 that some of Tottenham’s biggest players could be lured away in the summer.

It has been reported that Aston Villa and Chelsea both enquired about Lucas Bergvall in January, with the Villans thought to have explored a move for the Swede after Tottenham beat them to the signing of Conor Gallagher.

A journalist has now predicted that the Lilywhites may have a fight on their hands to keep hold of the young midfielder in the summer.

Tottenham’s resolve to keep Lucas Bergvall could be tested

O’Rourke has now revealed that the Sweden international is seen as a key part of Tottenham’s long-term plans.

However, he suggested that should the Lilywhites fail to qualify for Europe, they may be in serious danger of losing Bergvall in the summer.

When asked about the speculation over the 20-year-old’s future, the journalist told Football Insider: “Well look, if Tottenham Hotspur are out of Europe and struggling again, they’re going to find themselves more susceptible to offers for their best players, and Bergvall definitely comes in to that reckoning.

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“He’s a highly-regarded player, and he’s done well since he arrived at Tottenham. Obviously, he’s out with a long-term injury, so he’s been a big miss for Tottenham in the fight they find themselves in for survival as well.

“He’s highly regarded at Tottenham, he’s under a long contract until 2031 and there was no surprise that they rebuffed those inquiries from Chelsea and Villa in the January window.

“There was no change they were going to let him leave then. Tottenham see him as a key part of their long-term future at the club. But if Spurs continue to struggle and maybe miss out on European competition, you might have other clubs ready to test their resolve to keep hold of their best players including Bergvall.”

It was reported this week that Tottenham put a £57m price tag on Bergvall after his breakthrough season.

Could player exits through a spanner in Spurs’ grand summer plans?

Reports indicate that Tottenham are planning an ambitious squad rebuild in the summer after a quiet January window.

There is no doubt that the current Spurs squad needs major reinforcements across the pitch to get back to challenging near the top end of the table.

A Tottenham player, who has endured consistent injury troubles over the last two seasons, has emerged as a top target for Juventus.

Reports indicate that Tottenham will undertake an ambitious squad rebuild next summer, and one would assume that it would also involve a few exits.

The Lilywhites currently have too many injury-prone players in their squad, and that is something they may want to fix in the summer.

One of those is Destiny Udogie, who has emerged as a target for Juventus, according to reports over recent days.

Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie could become one of Juventus’ top targets

A new report in TuttoJuve has now not only confirmed that Udogie is on Juve’s radar, but has revealed that he has been identified as the ‘ideal’ signing by the Turin club to strengthen at left-back.

The Serie A club are ‘closely monitoring’ the Italian as we approach the summer, and it is alleged that he could become ‘one of their main targets’ for the summer.

Udogie’s offensive thrust, his strength, ball progression and his engine are valued by the Bianconeri hierarchy, as is his international experience.

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His characteristics ‘fit perfectly with the tactical needs’ of Juve, who may push ahead with an approach for the defender when the transfer market reopens.

Deal for Udogie expected to be ‘complex’ for Juve

However, TuttoJuve make it clear that a deal for the Tottenham Hotspur left-back ‘promises to be complex’ for the Italian club.

The Premier League side have no intention of selling Udogie, who is under contract until 2030 in North London.

It will take a ‘significant offer’ to convince Spurs to sell the 23-year-old, but Juve are ‘willing to consider a significant financial outlay’ on the former Udinese man.

A former Tottenham Hotspur academy goalkeeper endured a moment he will struggle to forget this weekend, with an extraordinary error quickly going viral.

Not every player who comes through the Tottenham Hotspur academy makes it into the senior squad, although plans are in place for more academy stars to break into the first team.

Several rise through the youth ranks and head out on loan before eventually being sold without ever pulling on the Lilywhite shirt in a competitive first-team fixture.

Others break through and become global stars after progressing through the academy system, with Harry Kane a prime example.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi scores a bizarre own goal

Josh Oluwayemi falls into the former category, having progressed through the Tottenham academy ranks without making a first-team appearance for Tottenham.

He now plays in New Zealand with Wellington Phoenix, where he has been a mainstay in goal for the A-League side.

Unfortunately, the clash against Auckland was one to forget for the 24-year-old, who produced what many are already calling an own goal of the year contender.

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In the 24th minute, a long clearance from Auckland defender Jake Girdwood-Reich sailed over the Wellington back line and dropped towards Oluwayemi, who had advanced well outside his penalty area.

With no immediate pressure on him, the former Spurs goalkeeper attempted to head the ball away but misjudged it completely, sending it looping back over his head and into his own net from outside the box.

Watch the own goal here:

Spurs academy graduate faces tough response after nightmare moment

The match eventually ended 5-0, with Auckland City comfortably seeing off Wellington in the New Zealand derby. Oluwayemi’s side now sits 11th in the division and is on course to miss out on the qualification places.

Following the defeat, Giancarlo Italiano resigned from his position as Wellington Phoenix manager, leaving the club without a head coach at a crucial stage of the season.

Former Tottenham youngster Oluwayemi will no doubt be gutted by his mistake and eager to respond when his side next face third-placed Sydney FC on March 1.

There has now been an update on forward Mason Melia, who arrived through the door at Tottenham Hotspur during the January transfer window.

Spurs signed Mason Melia from St Patrick’s Athletic for £1.6m plus add-ons back in February of last year, with the youngster seen as one of the best young talents to emerge from Irish football over recent years.

The forward had to wait until he turned 18 to arrive at Tottenham Hotspur due to the post-Brexit rules, eventually making the move to London in last month’s transfer window.

The striker arrived at the club in red-hot form, having finished the 2025 season with 13 goals and four assists from 35 league matches for St Pat’s.

Mason Melia set to start training with Tottenham

Melia has not been spotted training at Hotspur Way since his arrival, as the teenager was dealing with an injury.

BBC Sport have now revealed that the forward is expected to return to training next week for the first time since his switch to North London.

The report reveals that Melia has been dealing with a back issue, which the Tottenham medical staff first wanted to address before they introduced him to training.

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With the Irish youngster’s injury problems behind him, he is now set to take the pitch at Hotspur Way for the first time over the coming days.

Will Melia be involved with the senior Spurs side?

BBC Sport say that the centre-forward is expected to begin with Spurs Under‑21s from next week.

However, the report says that he will be allowed to train with the first team if he impresses and proves his fitness.

A Swedish politician has bizarrely referred to Tottenham Hotspur while speaking in parliament, and it was far from flattering.

Spurs have been the butt of jokes from opposition fans for a long time, due to their reputation of ‘bottling’ big moments and not being able to cross the line.

Tottenham fans would have been hoping that would change when they beat Manchester United in Bilbao last year to lift the Europa League.

However, the Lilywhites have struggled domestically again this term and now appear to be involved in a relegation battle, and their troubles have not gone unnoticed in Sweden.

Swedish political aims ‘Spursy’ barb while referring to Tottenham

Swedish politician Mikael Damberg has decided to take a dig at the North London club while analysing his nation’s economic struggles in the club’s parliament.

He likened the Scandinavian nation’s economic performance to Tottenham’s, suggesting that they struggle to bring things together despite having a lot of resources at their disposal.

Damberg said (via Football.London): “I naturally think of Tottenham Hotspur, also known as Spurs, it is one of England’s most distinguished and rich clubs with an enormous stadium, dedicated and large supporter base – everything to be considered a ‘top team’.

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“Despite this, Tottenham find themselves in crisis. They are fighting at the bottom of the table, just a few points above the relegation zone. Not because they lack resources or benefits, but because they have squandered opportunities.

“Due to making wrong decisions, general jerkiness and thinking in the short-term, they have lost their direction and stability. The club have been given the name ‘Spursy’, [which is] when you have opportunities but get no results. Madame Speaker, that is precisely how the Minister of Finance is handling the Swedish economy.

“Sweden has the power, ability and resources. We have the companies, workforce and innovation capabilities. Conditions exits for the Swedish economy to prosper. The government risks making Sweden ‘Spursy’. That won’t do. Sweden cannot perform like Tottenham.”

Tottenham do not look likely to shake off the ‘Spursy’ tag anytime soon

Tottenham are not going to overcome the accusation of mental fragility levelled against them unless they have a sustained spell of success.

Being involved in a relegation battle while being one of the richest clubs in the country is certainly not going to help their cause.

Tottenham fans will hope that their current blip is temporary and that the club will soon find a formula to be back challenging consistently at the top end of the table.