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Tottenham Hotspur suffered a humiliating 4-1 home defeat against Arsenal yesterday.

Spurs had shown some signs of a resurgence, scoring just 42 seconds after the visitors took the lead, but it all dissipated.

Tottenham had no response when their arch-rivals upped the tempo, and they remain winless in 2026, facing a real threat of relegation.

Several players failed to step up yesterday, including summer signing Xavi Simons.

The Dutchman looked like he was finally finding his groove, but he has regressed again.

Simons lost a staggering 14/15 duels, made one error leading to a shot, and completed none of his attempted dribbles.

He lost possession of the ball a mind-blowing 24 times. Journalist Alasdair Gold claimed Simons ‘struggled‘. His 4/10 mark overstated his impact.

Spurs need someone who can take the ball under duress, glide past opponents and create something out of nothing.

Right now, that responsibility falls almost entirely on Simons’ shoulders. He is Tottenham’s only genuine creative outlet.

With confidence fragile and results spiralling, there is no room for passengers.

The numbers against Arsenal were alarming, but beyond the statistics was a worrying lack of authority and incision in possession.

Spurs are staring down the barrel of an unthinkable relegation battle. If they are to avoid it, Simons must rediscover his groove and fast.

Tottenham Hotspur welcome Arsenal to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon, knowing defeat would entrench them in a proper relegation scrap.

Spurs sit just five points above the drop zone heading into the weekend, without a Premier League win in eight matches.

The north London derby could hardly come at a more volatile moment for Tottenham.

However, this is also a tentative time for league leaders Arsenal, and Spurs can capitalise on their frailty.

Match preview

New head coach Igor Tudor takes charge of his first Spurs match.

The Croatian insisted he is 100% confident the club will remain in the Premier League, but he needs to walk the walk.

Tudor inherits a squad ravaged by injuries, revealing he has trained with as few as 13 players in recent sessions.

Still, he has wasted no time, promising clarity, intensity and a mentality shift.

Tudor does have a reputation for fast starts. He has won his first game in charge in each of his last five managerial roles. Spurs fans will hope that trend continues.

Arsenal, though, arrive under pressure of their own.

Mikel Arteta’s side have dropped seven points from winning positions in 2026 and squandered a 2-0 lead at Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek.

Their title advantage is dissipating, and nerves are beginning to show.

The derby rarely lacks edge, but with Spurs fighting to pull clear of danger and Arsenal battling to stay top, Sunday’s clash carries enormous weight at both ends of the table.

Match stats

Spurs must be wary. Arsenal have won six of their last seven Premier League meetings with Tottenham.

Tottenham have also lost their last three home league games against their rivals.

Arsenal have won each of the last four Premier League north London derbies. Spurs are winless in eight league matches (D4, L4), their worst run in a single campaign since 2007.

Tottenham are the only Premier League side yet to win in 2026. Arsenal have lost just one of their last 21 away London derbies in the league.

Tottenham team news

Cristian Romero remains suspended, meaning Tudor must appoint a new captain for his first game in charge.

Dominic Solanke is struggling with a throat issue but has returned to light training. Brazilian international (54 caps) Richarlison is back, but Pedro Porro remains unavailable.

Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison, Kevin Danso, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski and Destiny Udogie remain sidelined, leaving Tudor short of options.

The ‘very ambitious’ Mathys Tel will likely start alongside Randal Kolo Muani in attack.

Tottenham predicted XI (4-2-3-1)

Gugulielmo Vicario; Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Micky Van de Ven, Djed Spence; Conor Gallagher, Joao Palhinha; Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani; Dominic Solanke.

One of Tottenham Hotspur’s long-standing commercial partners has decided to end its association with the club, according to the Telegraph.

The unnamed key sponsor has informed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club that their partnership will end at the end of the season.

Spurs will lose millions of pounds as a result, and they could be dealt further blows as other commercial partners consider whether to follow suit.

Tottenham are in a relegation battle after a woeful Premier League campaign and could be in more trouble if they lose to Arsenal on Sunday.

They finished 17th in the league table last term and are currently 16th after 26 games, five points above the relegation zone.

Sponsors are afraid Spurs could be battling relegation again next season, even if they escape the drop this term.

Tottenham fans are angry with the team’s performances, and some have stopped attending games.

Some of the contracts Spurs signed with sponsors include lucrative bonuses based on European qualification, while some have relegation renegotiation and termination clauses.

They brought in Igor Tudor to replace Thomas Frank and hope he can help improve their fortunes on the pitch in the Premier League.

Tottenham will need to improve significantly over the coming months to retain some of their key commercial partners.

Arsenal forward Kai wants to come back from his injury this weekend and play against Tottenham Hotspur but the Gunners are holding him back to protect him, according to AFC AMDEN.

The Arsenal insider, who is famous for breaking news about the Emirates Stadium club on social media and is followed by the likes of Kaya Kaynak, Simon Collings, Charles Watt and Sami Mokbel on X (formerly Twitter) made the claim this morning.

They were the first to break the news that the Gunners were in talks to hand Ethan Nwaneri fresh terms ahead of his 18th birthday last year before the likes of Fabrizio Romano amplified the news.

They also first reported in 2024 that Ben White had undergone a knee procedure for an injury and have been spot on with most of their scoops concerning Arsenal.

AFC AMDEN has now reported that Havertz believes he is ready to return when the Gunners take on Spurs on Sunday.

The German picked up a fresh knock last week, and while the muscular injury is not serious, it was reported that he is expected to miss the North London derby.

Havertz missed the first five months of the season due to a knee issue sustained in August and Arsenal are careful about his long-term fitness and will not rush him back into action.

The Gunners dropped crucial points last night in a major blow to their title chances after a 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

They are back in action this weekend and will be desperate to win as even a draw could see Manchester City move ahead of them in the table if they win their next two games.

Arsenal could do with someone like Havertz for such a huge game with Martin Odegaard a doubt for the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, it is unlikely that he will feature despite his readiness and will have to wait until the medical team okays him.

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Edin Terzic is interested in becoming the next Tottenham Hotspur manager and has turned down the chance to manage several clubs in Europe to hold out for a Premier League job, according to the Telegraph.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club have added the former Borussia Dortmund boss and Marco Rose to their list of potential candidates to succeed Thomas Frank.

An interview process is now underway, but it is unknown whether Spurs see the duo as interim or permanent options.

Tottenham also have Mauricio Pochettino on their radar, and their former manager has revealed that he is currently in London.

He has posted a picture of himself on social media platform Instagram at a restaurant with a member of his coaching staff, Toni Jimenez.

However, the Argentine cannot take a job before the summer due to his commitment to the United States national team ahead of the World Cup.

Terzic would fancy his chances of impressing at Spurs having done a brilliant job in the Bundesliga with Dortmund.

The German won the DFB-Pokal with them in 2020-21 before leading them to the final of the Champions League in 2023-24.

Terzic has not managed a club since leaving Dortmund in June 2024 and will be ready to hit the ground running if appointed to succeed Frank.

Rose has been out of work since RB Leipzig sacked him a year ago, but he could also be perfect for Tottenham having also managed the likes of Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Monchengladbach and Dortmund.

More names are expected to emerge in the coming days as Spurs look to appoint the perfect man after struggles in the domestic competitions under Ange Postecoglou and Frank over the last two seasons.

Tottenham Hotspur are searching for a new manager following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.

The Danish tactician was never the right fit at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

His route-one style of play was not the ideal tactical approach for a team that wants to play front-foot football.

With Frank’s chapter at Spurs now closed, the North London club must ensure it does not get it wrong with its next pick.

Tottenham’s decision-making at the top hasn’t really inspired confidence, but if they pick the wrong man, it could set the club back for years.

Tottenham need a forward-thinking, tactically grounded, and experienced figure to turn the tide and return the club to the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Enter Roberto De Zerbi.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion manager is a well-respected tactician who has shown he can deliver attacking football.

“His sides have a strong identity; they play really good football,” coaching great Carlo Ancelotti said regarding De Zerbi (via Football Italia).

Another legendary coach, Pep Guardiola, had also lauded De Zerbi, calling him one of the coaches he admires most in world football.

De Zerbi famously led Brighton to the Europa League and earned plaudits for his work with the Seagulls.

His tenure in Marseille ended poorly, but his first season with the club was quite memorable.

This Tottenham squad is crying out for De Zerbi’s tactical nuance after looking inept under Ange Postecoglou and Frank.

The 46-year-old is the kind of forward-thinking hire the club needs.

The idea of Mauricio Pochettino should be shelved. Nostalgia should not rule such an important decision.

De Zerbi is the way to go, and Spurs should be doing everything to get him to sign on the dotted line.

Even if he is not keen on taking on a new job immediately, Spurs must find an interim to hold the seat for him until the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur are trying to have a new man in charge by next Monday, when Spurs players return to training from a five-day break, according to the Telegraph.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club sacked Thomas Frank on Wednesday morning and are looking for a replacement.

Robbie Keane has been linked with the job but is only interested in the permanent position and would not agree to return to his former club as the interim head coach until the end of the season.

Spurs have other targets in mind and are believed to be open to appointing a temporary boss until someone like Mauricio Pochettino is available in the summer.

Keane has impressed at Ferencvaros, and he would be Tottenham’s “Carrick candidate”, given he still retains a strong connection with fans and club staff long after his playing days.

The 45-year-old won the league title with the Hungarian top-flight club last season after joining midway through the campaign.

Ferencvaros are currently top of the league with 12 games remaining, but Keane could be open to leaving them for a permanent job at Tottenham.

He won the Israeli ­Premier League title with ­Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2023-24 and will fancy his chances of keeping Spurs up and challenging for major silverware next season.

The North London club are just five points above the relegation zone with 12 games left and could find themselves in a relegation battle if their fortunes do not improve immediately.

Tottenham may have to consider their assistant manager John Heitinga as a short-term option, but they favour appointing an external candidate if possible.

They return to action next Sunday, when they take on Arsenal, and may need to wrap things up over the weekend if they want a definite plan in place at the start of next week.

One senior first-team Tottenham Hotspur player has claimed that Thomas Frank was ultimately a coach for a “smaller team”, according to The Athletic.

Spurs players did not enjoy the limited nature of Frank’s football, and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club decided to part with the Dane yesterday.

Tottenham players felt he mainly focused on compact defensive shape, long balls and counter-attacks.

He was unable to get the best out of the talent available to him, and the player in question felt that he was only able to perform at ’10 per cent’ of his potential because of Frank’s restrictive tactics.

Only two players – Pedro Porro and Joao Palhinha – have reacted on social media to his sacking, and it is safe to say he was not popular with most of the Tottenham stars.

He impressed at Brentford but could not manage Spurs well and the North London club will be wary of giving the job to a manager from a mid-table team.

Assistant Tottenham head coach John Heitinga is among the options being considered to replace Frank on a short-term basis, and the Dutchman has been taking first-team training since his departure.

Former Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has been linked with the job, while Mauricio Pochettino is said to be keen on returning ahead of his contract with the United States Men’s National Team expiring at the end of the World Cup.

Spurs will not be short of options but will be careful about their next managerial appointment having ended up sacking recent bosses.

John Heitinga is among the options being considered to replace Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur, according to The Times.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium club sacked Frank this morning and are looking at replacements ahead of the derby against Arsenal on February 22.

Spurs could give Heitinga the job on a short-term basis. He took first-team training this morning.

The 42-year-old became Tottenham assistant head coach in January and has much-needed managerial experience having twice been in charge at Ajax.

He was an interim manager at the Eredivisie club for the second half of the 2022-23 season before becoming permanent boss last summer.

Heitinga was sacked last November. He returned to the Premier League at Tottenham, having worked as assistant manager at West Ham United in 2023-24 and at Liverpool last season.

It is unclear whether he will get the job as Spurs are expected to make an interim appointment until the end of the season.

Former Tottenham managerial target Roberto De Zerbi is available after Marseille parted ways with him earlier today.

He was on their shortlist when they were looking to replace Postecoglou last summer, with Fabio Paratici favouring him.

More names will keep emerging in the coming days as Tottenham plan for the future.

Injuries did not help Frank, but much more was expected. He can have no excuses for his abysmal reign.

Heitinga will fancy his chances of impressing if given the chance, and he will hope to get an opportunity until the end of the season.

Tottenham could be in the relegation battle after the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United last night left them five points above the drop zone.