Daily Express

Jamie Carragher launched a scathing attack on Cristian Romero after the Tottenham captain received an unnecessary yellow card in his side's 2-2 draw Newcastle. Romero, who was absent from Saturday's loss to Fulham following a one-match ban for accumulating five bookings, was shown his sixth caution of the campaign at St. James' Park before scoring two goals - including a dramatic overhead kick in stoppage time.

In the 23rd minute, the Argentina defender lunged in recklessly and caught Joelinton with a late challenge, leaving the midfielder sprawled on the turf. Referee Tom Bramall had little choice but to brandish a yellow card at Romero. Responding to the incident, Carragher expressed his frustration whilst providing co-commentary for Sky Sports.

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Carragher vented: "Romero is not going to change is he? I love aggressive players but he's not going to get the ball there. You'd think with age and maturity he'd stop doing it but apparently not."

If Romero accumulates four additional yellow cards before Tottenham's 32nd Premier League fixture concludes, he would face a two-match suspension.

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However, the Argentine delivered a quick-fire response as he equalised to snatch a point for Spurs. He stayed up after a set-piece came to an end, but beat Dan Burn to a header after Mohammed Kudus crossed the ball back into the penalty area.

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It was not thought to be enough for all three points, however, as Burn was brought down by Rodrigo Bentancur inside the box and Anthony Gordon stepped up to score what was set to be the winning goal.

But Romero stepped up once again and scored his second goal of the game, this time a bicycle kick that ran past Aaron Ramsdale, to clinch a point at St James' Park.

The highest tally of yellow cards Romero has amassed in a Premier League campaign stands at nine, when he managed one caution every three fixtures during the 2022/23 season under Antonio Conte.

Throughout his top-flight career, Romero has collected 33 yellow cards across 111 appearances. He has received his marching orders twice during that spell, though his latest dismissal occurred over two years ago in the defeat to Chelsea in November 2023.

Spurs travelled to the North East hoping to halt a three-match losing streak and secure their first Premier League victory since October. Despite being outplayed in the first half, Tottenham managed to keep the scoreline at 0-0 going into the break.

Half-time substitute Bruno Guimaraes scored from the edge of the box to break the deadlock in the second half, an area where Spurs have conceded from on several occasions in recent weeks.

Romero might have thought he had answered Carragher's criticism by heading in an equaliser, only for Gordon to send the home supporters into raptures by tucking home his spot-kick before Romero's acrobatic effort drew Spurs level in stoppage time.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has suggested that Fulham's Marco Silva could be a perfect fit for Tottenham Hotspur amid the ongoing speculation surrounding Thomas Frank's future. The Danish manager took over from Ange Postecoglou earlier this season, but his team has been underperforming of late.

The recent 2-1 loss to Fulham at home means that only Wolverhampton Wanderers have a poorer home record than Frank's Spurs in the Premier League this season. The north London side found themselves two goals down within just six minutes, with Kenny Tete opening the scoring and Harry Wilson adding a second, capitalising on an error from goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

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Vicario, the Italian shot-stopper, lost possession near his goal area, allowing Wilson to curl the ball into the net. The subsequent touches by the Spurs keeper were met with jeers from the home crowd, much to the dismay of Frank and defender Pedro Porro.

Frank expressed his disappointment in the post-match press conference, saying: "I didn't like that our fans booed at him [Vicario] straight after and a few times he touched the ball. They can't be true Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you are on the pitch. And we do everything we can to perform. After, fair enough, boo, no problem. But not during. That's unacceptable in my opinion."

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According to The Telegraph, an emergency meeting was held by Spurs last month to address the growing disconnect with their supporters. Ahead of their match against Newcastle, Frank acknowledged the fans' frustration, stating: "I completely understand the frustration.

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"If we don't win there will always be a frustration. We have not won much at home this season - and also last -so the frustration can grow. It's my job to do what we can to have calm.

"We are nothing without fans. Tottenham Hotspur is nothing without the fans. My point was that during matches we need each other. Afterwards the booing can be fair. During, then we need to make it a fortress and, to do that, we all need to be together."

According to a recent report from The Sun, several Spurs players have grown increasingly exasperated with Frank's approach, with squad members left bewildered about their positions due to last-minute tactical alterations. Nevertheless, Frank maintains he enjoys unwavering support from the Tottenham board, though mounting questions surround his long-term prospects.

During an appearance on The Overlap, Carragher said: "I've always been a fan of Marco Silva, even when he first came to the Premier League with Hull. I think he's the one manager Everton should've stuck with, when they kept changing manager under [Farhad] Moshiri and the owner, he was the one I liked.

"I've always seen Marco Silva [as the level of] Tottenham – not quite to go from a [club like] Fulham to Liverpool or Manchester City, or a team that can compete for the league, but a level just below where they are trying for Champions League - maybe a club like Aston Villa.

"That will be the next step for him in the Premier League, and I think he deserves one of those jobs when they next come up."

Tottenham players held an urgent meeting last month to address the growing rift with their supporters. Spurs suffered a humiliating 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, conceding two goals in a disastrous six-minute spell.

This loss marked the end of a dreadful week for Thomas Frank's squad, following losses against Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. It also marks their fourth defeat in six Premier League matches. This was also Spurs' 10th home defeat of 2025 in the league, setting a new unwanted record as they have never lost more than 10 home league games in a single year in their history.

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Controversy from Saturday's match centred around Fulham's second goal when Guglielmo Vicario lost control of the ball well outside his box. Harry Wilson capitalised on this error, curling the ball into the unguarded net after the goalkeeper failed to clear the danger.

When the ball came to Vicario again shortly afterwards, some Spurs fans expressed their displeasure by booing him. This reaction incensed both Frank and Pedro Porro after the match.

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The Telegraph claim that the issue of the Spurs' fan base was the primary topic in a players' meeting following their defeat to Chelsea on November 1. The report suggests that the disconnect between the players and their supporters is seen as a critical issue within the squad.

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The Spurs squad have introduced a fresh ritual whereby they congregate in the centre circle at half-time before departing the field as one unit.

The motivation behind this gesture is to showcase their unity, regardless of the prevailing mood.

It is suggested that this is not the first group of Tottenham players to harbour worries about their bond with supporters, with similar tensions arising in previous campaigns.

Following Saturday's match, Frank branded those Tottenham fans who jeered Vicario as "not true fans" and called their behaviour "unacceptable".

He declared: "I didn't like that our fans booed at him [Vicario] straight after and a few times he touched the ball. They can't be true Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you are on the pitch.

"And we do everything we can to perform. After, fair enough, boo, no problem. But not during. That's unacceptable in my opinion."

Meanwhile, in an Instagram message posted on Sunday afternoon, Porro stated: "Football is emotions. In football, as in life, there can always be mistakes.

"What I will not tolerate is hearing disrespect from the fans to my team-mates, hence my frustration at the end of the game.

"And we will get up. We remind you, six months ago, everything was so bad. In the end, it is not how it begins but how it ends. To the true Spurs fans, I love you."

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has dismissed speculation linking him with a switch to Barcelona, insisting he has had 'no contact' regarding a potential transfer. The 32-year-old has been persistently linked with a move to the Nou Camp.

He is seen as a possible successor to Robert Lewandowski, whose contract expires at the end of the campaign. Kane is understood to have a release clause in his Bayern Munich deal worth approximately €65 million (£57m).

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However, the clause must be triggered by the player himself and runs out at the end of January. Therefore, time is running out for a decision to be made.

There has also been speculation surrounding a Premier League return, with reports suggesting a possible move back to Tottenham. He left the club for Bayern in the summer of 2023. In an interview with Bild, Kane addressed the transfer rumours.

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He said: "I haven't had any contact with anyone, nobody has contacted me. I feel very comfortable in the current situation, even though we haven't yet discussed my situation with Bayern."

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He continued: "There's no rush. I'm really happy in Munich. You can see that in the way I'm playing. If there's contact, then we'll see. But I'm not thinking about the new season yet.

"First up is the World Cup in the summer. And it's very unlikely that anything will change after this season."

When questioned whether Bayern supporters should be concerned, he replied: "I don't think so." Since his move to Germany, the England skipper has netted a remarkable 109 goals in 114 appearances for his club. He's set to return to London this week as Bayern Munich face Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Kane boasts an impressive record against the Gunners, with 15 goals and two assists in his 21 competitive encounters with Tottenham's north London rivals. This includes a goal he netted in the 2023/24 Champions League quarter-finals, helping Bayern advance with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

A potential return to the Premier League could see Kane challenge Alan Shearer's longstanding goalscoring record. He is just 48 goals away from matching Shearer's tally of 260 - a record that has remained unbroken for nearly two decades.

Tottenham could have been in line for a transfer windfall in the January window, but an outrageous demand from another club may have cost them that opportunity. It comes as Spurs are looking ahead to the winter market as an opportunity to bolster their ranks with fresh faces.

The Lilywhites have had a mixed start to life under Thomas Frank, who was brought in to find some more consistency after finishing 17th in the Premier League last season with Ange Postecoglou. Plenty of change has occurred for the north London club beyond the managerial hotseat. Daniel Levy's exit has brought in a reshuffle within the hierarchy, as the Lewis Family look to take the club to the next level.

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While the dust settles in the boardroom, the action on the pitch currently has them ninth in the Premier League, while they still have ambitions of a top-eight finish in the Champions League. The January transfer window could be crucial to that, with injuries impacting the Spurs squad, while questions remain over the quality that remains at Frank's disposal.

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It remains to be seen how much Frank could be offered in the way of transfer funds, with the potential need for some outgoings before some signings. With that in mind, Tottenham were in line for a potential windfall that could have offered them some much-needed income, thanks to a masterstroke.

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That was in the form of a sell-on clause that the club had included in a deal for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, when he left to join Marseille in the summer. Spurs picked up roughly £17m for the Danish midfielder when his loan move was made permanent. Just a few months on from that move, it seems as though there has been some interest in the 30-year-old.

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A report from Italian outlet Sportmediaset claims that Juventus are keen on landing Hojbjerg in January, in an attempt to bolster their options. However, Marseille are believed to have set a price tag of £52m for his services. The Serie A side are said to be outraged at the demands, claiming the fee set is "prohibitive".

Juventus have seemingly dropped their interest for now, blocking Tottenham from landing any kind of windfall from the move.

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Frank's success at Tottenham could be defined by the options he has at his disposal. The long-term future of the head coach will need to see a squad that grows along with him, something that has been the case with their closest rivals, Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta.

The north London derby thrashing proved just how far there is to go, both on and off the pitch, as pressure is put on Spurs to reach higher levels. Speaking before the encounter, Frank was asked about the prospect of his squad changing in a similar way to Arsenal's.

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He said: "I think it's natural. If I'm here in six years' time, it will be a completely different squad. It's just natural. Some will be sold, some will develop, some will maybe not develop as much as you want to. So, I think that's a natural thing. It's not like I'm going to say and take my decision on him and him needing to leave now, but of course, during the Spring we'll look into that, which is natural in terms of developing a squad.”

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Tottenham Hotspur will not sack Thomas Frank in the aftermath of their poor showing in the north London derby against Arsenal. Spurs were torn apart by the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal's Eberechi Eze rubbing salt in the wounds by netting a hat-trick after coming so close to signing for them in the summer. Leandro Trossard was also on target as the hosts romped to a 4-1 victory to extend their lead at the Premier League summit.

Spurs' fourth league defeat of the season comes amid a backdrop of growing restlessness from Spurs supporters at what they perceive as below-par and negative performances. But while Spurs chiefs are aware of the downturn in results, they are keen to give Frank time to turn things around.

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According to The Telegraph, the club's owners, the Lewis family, are clear on their thoughts that Frank's appointment was a long-term project and that remains the case. It is emphasised that the club are not panicking and will not be forced into making a knee-jerk decision. They do have concerns, however.

It is thought that the former Brentford boss' numerous changes have contributed to a series of disappointing performances, while some players are keen for Frank to focus on the strengths of his own side.

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The squad reported to Spurs' training ground on Monday as usual before travelling to France for the club's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

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Speaking after his side's defeat to Arsenal, Frank said: "I'm a very big believer that no matter what system you play you can be successful. I completely understand the question and I will always take the full responsibility. The full responsibility will always be on me today when we didn't perform.

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"I picked a team that played 5-4-1, changed it half-time, very clever, one minute into it they scored, 3-0, the rest is history after that. What I would say is that no matter if we played another system we needed to be more aggressive and better in the duels. That doesn't matter to the system but I take responsibility for everything today."

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On Spurs' disappointing results, he added: "That, of course, will always be a concern. I would like the team to have very few bad performances. There will always be average performances, because it's football we're dealing with.

"That's definitely something I need to look into, because today, I felt we were fresh, I think we were ready. The Chelsea game was a little bit on the back end of a tough spell. There could be that but the performance was still bad. Today, I didn't expect us to be not competitive."

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Frank was appointed in the summer as Ange Postecoglou's replacement. Spurs paid £10million compensation to Brentford to seal his services, while Frank penned a three-year deal in north London.

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A special moment unfolded in the Arsenal dressing room following the North London derby. The club released a video on social media showing all the players returning to the tunnel after their resounding 4-1 victory over Tottenham. The spotlight was firmly on hat-trick hero Eberechi Eze. Piero Hincapie put in a flawless performance, stepping in for Gabriel.

Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were also exceptional. Bukayo Saka was seen dancing joyfully to the music post-match. The scenes were truly inspiring. And, wonderfully, it wasn't just about them. Players like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Odegaard were waiting in the dressing room. Even the injured players wanted to join in the fun.

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Gabriel was no different. Once he'd left the pitch, donning an Arsenal scarf, he joined in the celebrations.

All of the absent players, and there were quite a few, were eager to partake in the festivities. Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are well-liked and valuable members of the squad.

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta often speaks about the unity within the squad, and he discussed the celebratory scenes in the dressing room and what they meant to the players.

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Of course, rival fans might argue that this is perfectly normal. And it's only what you would expect.

But this is football. There are egos, disgruntled players, and those who don't want to celebrate if they haven't played.

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It might surprise you.

Some footballers are dreadful when they're injured, showing no interest in recovery. Jesus is a prime example of the opposite - he's eager, can't wait to return to the pitch and is an incredibly positive influence.

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Gyokeres is incredibly motivated. His mindset is outstanding.

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Odegaard is a strong leader and a highly respected captain. You don't have to be a showy gladiator to lead.

Arteta admires Odegaard because he sets the pace and leads the press. If you understand football, you'll recognise that this is what being a courageous leader looks like today.

Mikel Merino had an odd game. Initially struggled trying to play with his back to goal.

He dropped deeper, played with the goal in front of him and then was excellent. This is another testament to a player who is such a valuable team member.

There's a unity in this group that stems from winning. But it's more than just that.

Arteta and Arsenal have specifically sought out individuals with character. They want players who contribute to dressing room unity. This is a serious player.

He's enjoyed success at Bayer Leverkusen and Ecuador are gaining a reputation as World Cup dark horses. They've got some fantastic players.

Arsenal signed a player who came knowing he might have to play second fiddle to Gabriel for a while. But they clearly did their homework as he has patiently waited his turn, and will now seize his opportunity.

He didn't put a foot wrong.

This is all about squad building. Arteta firmly believes that Arsenal has what it takes to clinch the title this season.

They are in it together. Arsenal have a tough fixture list ahead.

They will need to rest and rotate. It's Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Chelsea on Sunday.

Then the following week sees Brentford on Wednesday night, followed by an away game at Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime. That is downright criminal.

However, after football authorities rearranged Crystal Palace's Carabao Cup tie to ease their fixtures, one would presume the Premier League will intervene at some point. Anyone?

That's when the depth of the squad becomes crucial - and all of the big guns will be returning over the next few weeks and games.

Arsenal star Eberechi Eze ruthlessly dismissed questions about his Tottenham transfer snub after netting a historic hat-trick against Spurs on Sunday. The 27-year-old became the first player in almost 50 years to score three goals in a north London derby. His first-half strike, followed by his brace after the interval, compounded the misery for the Gunners' rivals, just months after Spurs were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign him from Crystal Palace.

Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock in the opening period as he slotted home after the Spurs defence were caught out by a delicious pass from Mikel Merino. With just four minutes of the first-half remaining, Eze then grabbed his opening goal and Arsenal's second as Mikel Arteta's men capitalised on their first-half dominance. And Eze then scored twice more either side of a 45-yard strike from Spurs forward Richarlison.

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Yet, having fulfilled a childhood ambition on Sunday, the Arsenal hero refused to discuss the summer transfer window drama that saw him reject Spurs for the Premier League table-toppers, stating: "Let's not speak about that."

Turning his attention to the match, Eze added: "That's a good one, enjoyable day, I'm happy to help the team. It's special, you know.

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"Special man, I'm grateful again. I prayed for it, I prayed for a hat-trick, I'm grateful man. That was a prayer today and God delivered."

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Arsenal secured Eze's signature ahead of north London rivals Tottenham in a £60million deal in August, with the England international admitting his childhood allegiance made the decision straightforward.

The midfielder previously told The Athletic: "I was prepared to go to Tottenham, but from the moment Arsenal came, it was always going to be them.

"My first [senior] Arsenal game was special. It almost didn't feel real because it's something I've been dreaming of for a long time.

"Playing for Arsenal from eight to 13, it's been in the back of my mind wanting to go back. It felt like the realisation of a dream."

The victory proved vital for Arsenal beyond merely defeating their local adversaries, as the Gunners took full advantage of their title competitors faltering elsewhere.

Liverpool's struggles deepened on Saturday as they dropped further behind in their championship defence after losing to Nottingham Forest, while Newcastle dampened Manchester City's ambitions with a 2-1 triumph at St James' Park.

Eze's hat-trick, combined with Trossard's opening goal, extends Arsenal's advantage at the Premier League summit to six points heading into a demanding festive schedule.

The Gunners face second-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next weekend, shortly after their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich in mid-week.

Jamie Carragher has issued an apology after previously criticising Arsenal's summer signing of Eberechi Eze. The mercurial 27-year-old midfielder, who turned down Tottenham Hotspur to join Arsenal, propelled Mikel Arteta's team to a 4-1 triumph over Spurs at the Emirates on Sunday evening that strengthens their Premier League title bid.

Following Eze's hat-trick in the north London Derby, the former Liverpool defender admitted on Sky Sports: "I must be honest I think when Arsenal signed him and when I had my Liverpool hat on, and I looked at the signings Arsenal made.. Beside Viktor Gyokeres, it felt like a loy of them were to strengthen the squad really. So where Arsenal had problems the year before was when [Bukayo] Saka was out, they bought [Noni] Madueke. [Martin] Odegaard was out, they bought Eze.

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"One of the centre-backs was out so they got a couple of centre-backs. It was only really Gyokeres who I felt was going to go into the team. If I am being honest I think if [Kai] Havertz was one hundred per cent fit, Havertz would probably be the centre-forward in this team I think."

"So, when Eze came in I thought, 'OK maybe he's not a game-changer' and Les [Ferdinand] knows him a lot better than me and he still said earlier on in the show 'there's still a lot more to come'. But then we still see some of his highlights this season and there are a fee great goals in there and then he goes and scores a hat-trick, so apologies.

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"Certainly undervalued the importance that signing was because he looks like he could make a real difference for Arsenal this season and go on and win the title."

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Eze refused to acknowledge the fact he almost joined Spurs in the summer before his switch from Crystal Palace to Arsenal. Speaking on the pitch after his hat-trick, the England international said to Sky Sports: "Let's not speak about that."

The boyhood Arsenal supporter added: "That's a good one [feeling], enjoyable day, I'm happy to help the team. It's special, you know? Special man, I'm grateful again. I prayed for it, I prayed for a hat-trick, I'm grateful man. That was a prayer today and God delivered."

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And Eze's manager Mikel Arteta said of the playmaker to BBC Match of the Day, on being told he is only the fourth player ever to score a hat-trick in a north London derby: "That tells you about the difficulty and what he's done today. To be fair he could have scored four or five. He's a big player who can create magic moments which unbalance a team."

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Eberechi Eze scored a hat-trick to blow Spurs away. The England international, who nearly signed for Tottenham in the summer, scored three well-taken goals after Leandro Trossard's opener.

Richarlison scored a stunning goal to pull it back to 3-1 before Eze's hat-trick goal confirmed a well-deserved victory for the hosts. Express Sport rates the Spurs players after a disastrous performance...

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Tottenham player ratings vs Arsenal

Guglielmo Vicario - 6

Managed to block Rice's early volley and deflected Saka's free-kick after the half-hour mark. Couldn't stop Trossard's goal. He managed to touch Eze's shot despite bodies in front of him but couldn't keep it out. Wasn't close to Eze's second effort but did save Saka's curling shot with 20 minutes remaining. Couldn't reach Eze's hat-trick goal but made a good save to prevent him scoring a fourth. Could have been worse if not for the Italian.

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Kevin Danso - 3

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Played on the right of the back three but failed to stop Trossard's shot rolling behind him. Substituted at half-time with Spurs 2-0 down.

Cristian Romero - 4

The captain didn't contribute much and his passing was often inaccurate.

Micky van de Ven - 5

Had a few decent defensive moments amidst the chaos of Spurs' performance, but that's not saying much. Played Mikel Merino onside for Eze's third goal.

Djed Spence - 3

Struggled with Trossard on his flank and never seemed in control.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 3

Struggled to establish himself in the midfield tussle and appeared sluggish at times. Earned a yellow card in the first half.

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Joao Palhinha - 6

Seemed to be the only player who grasped the significance of the derby, despite only being at the club for a few months. Attempted to make his mark in the centre of the pitch against his Arsenal midfield rivals, succeeding with the sliding tackle that led to Richarlison's goal.

Destiny Udogie - 3

Caught out of position, playing Trossard onside for the Belgian's first-half goal. Saka gave him trouble almost every time he advanced.

Mohammed Kudus - 5

Appeared like a player who has been sidelined for a few weeks. Showed some nice touches but never really made progress with the ball.

Wilson Odobert - 3

Operated as one of the attacking midfielders behind Richarlison but lacked the physicality needed for a derby clash. Contributed little of significance.

Richarlison - 6

Had minimal possession in the first half and struggled when he did get it, except on a couple of occasions. However, he provided Spurs with a glimmer of hope with a superb effort from near the centre circle that sailed perfectly over Raya as he dashed back. Receives three extra points for the quality of the goal.

Substitutes

Xavi Simons - 5

Introduced for the second half. Tried to make things happen and fired a shot at Raya after the hour mark and another wide.

Pape Matar Sarr - 4

Brought some energy to the midfield but no additional quality.

Randal Kolo Muani - 4

Entered the fray on the left but saw little of the ball.

Pedro Porro - N/A

Substituted in for Spence during the final minutes, but struggled to make an impact.

Brennan Johnson - N/A

Entered the pitch as a substitute for Kudus in the closing stages, but had limited interaction with the ball.