Sports Illustrated

Arsenal centre back Gabriel Magalhães posted a triumphant picture of himself basking in the glory of Sunday’s 4–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and made a point of tagging Spurs striker Richarlison.

A matter of hours after recording Arsenal’s largest ever Premier League victory away to their north London rivals, Gabriel was in a boisterous mood. The Gunners had come into the derby with their title credentials under scrutiny thanks in no small part to the Brazilian’s error which presented Wolverhampton Wanderers with their equaliser last week.

Mikel Arteta’s table toppers were nervy for large swathes of the first half on Sunday. Gabriel was one of several players who cheaply ceded possession when faced with Tottenham’s reinvigorated press during the opening exchanges and the centre back could do nothing to stop Randal Kolo Muani rapidly cancelling out Eberechi Eze’s opener.

Viktor Gyökeres fired Arsenal back in front within two minutes of the restart to pave the way for what turned into a comfortable 4–1 win. Gabriel certainly appeared to enjoy it.

Several of the defender’s teammates delivered supportive comments beneath the post which showed the towering figure triumphantly holding up a four of hearts card, one for each goal his teammates scored in N17. The most mischievous aspect of the post was the nod to Richarlison.

The Spurs striker is a Brazilian compatriot of Gabriel’s but there appears to be no love lost in that pairing. Richarlison was a late substitute on the weekend, but still found time to tangle with Gabriel on the pitch before receiving a digital taunt. This was merely the latest chapter in the simmering social media feud between the two.

Gabriel vs. Richarlison in the Digital Age

Battles between Tottenham strikers and Arsenal centre backs used to be exclusively reserved for derby days. There may have been an occasional barb in the press which was pinned up on the dressing room wall, but in the modern social media age there are ample avenues for petty jibes.

Gabriel missed the reverse fixture between these sides through injury. Despite his stunning goal , Richarlison would find himself on the end of another 4–1 loss and a seemingly unnecessary taunt from his compatriot.

Shortly after the final whistle, Gabriel posted a picture of himself wearing the match shirt of hat-trick scorer Eze along with the midfielder’s Player of the Match award. Despite being nowhere to be seen, Richarlison was tagged.

This was likely a delayed response to the virtual tête-à -tête the pair played out during last summer’s pre-season friendly between the two north London rivals.

Spurs emerged victorious in the stifling heat of Hong Kong last July and Richarlison took his opportunity. The Brazilian forward shook off a glaring close-range miss to post an image of himself clutching two trophies, the Player of the Match award and the pre-season title Tottenham had won by claiming glory in the first-ever north London derby hosted outside the United Kingdom.

Gabriel did not let the issue lie. Arsenal’s prolific centre back swiftly responded with a picture of the three Premier League Player of the Match trophies which he had won against Spurs over the previous two seasons.

Gabriel Taunt Backfires

Lined up in front of Gabriel on Arsenal’s team coach across north London on Sunday evening was an assortment of items from a vending machine and the Player of the Match trophy. As many onlookers were quick to point out, Gabriel did not receive that award on the weekend.

Gyökeres justifiably claimed that particular gong following a two-goal haul which Arteta hailed as his best performance in an Arsenal shirt. Gabriel, by contrast, had a rather less comfortable evening.

The proud defender was part of the first Premier League backline to concede a goal from Tottenham’s misfiring forward Kolo Muani who perhaps should have had a second. With Arsenal only 2–1 up in the second half, the French Spurs forward swatted another crisp finish beyond David Raya only to be denied by the referee’s whistle. According to a lenient Peter Bankes, Kolo Muani had fouled Gabriel to get his shot away.

There were definitely two hands on the defender’s back but whether the minimal contact genuinely forced the 6'3" centre back flopping to the turf is subjective.

It was a particularly galling decision for Spurs fans who watched Hugo Ekitiké apply even more force on Cristian Romero yet still escape with a goal when Liverpool travelled to Tottenham in December.

Not that Gabriel would have much cared.

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Mikel Arteta welcomed the deserved criticism raining down upon his Arsenal side after their slip-up against Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek. “We need to go through the pain,” he warned his players. “We need to keep all that in our tummies to show it on Sunday.”

That hurt burst forth in the form of a 4–1 thumping against Tottenham Hotspur, which represented Arsenal’s largest league victory away to their arch rivals since 1978.

There were some shaky moments for Arteta’s title challengers to stutter through—this limp iteration of an injury-riddled Spurs side were level with the Gunners at 1–1 heading into half time—yet they managed to restore their advantage at the Premier League summit to five points.

Whether this weekend’s result was a question of Arsenal’s reinforced mental strength or simply Tottenham’s inferiority is a topic of major debate. In the eyes of Opta’s all-seeing supercomputer, it certainly boosted the Gunners’ title ambitions.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Premier League Title Race

“This chapter we wanted to write it,” a giddy Arteta beamed when the question of the title race was put to him on the weekend. “We have managed today.” Opta are incredibly confident that Arsenal will manage to reset their narrative by the end of May as well, with the Gunners given a bizarrely lofty 82.33% chance of winning the title.

Pep Guardiola’s cocktail-sipping Manchester City are only afforded a 16.92% likelihood of success. Much like their closest challengers, the perennial champions displayed plenty of weaknesses during their weekend win. Newcastle United had several sights of goal and were the better team for the second half of an unfortunate 2–1 defeat at the Etihad on Saturday night.

Such was Guardiola’s satisfaction with the scratchy triumph, he handed his players three days off. “Enjoy life,” was his advice. The Catalan coach promised to take the same approach and wasn’t even sure he would watch Arsenal’s trip to Tottenham. “I am on holiday so don’t know,” he wryly claimed.

Had Guardiola tuned in for the north London derby, he would have taken great pleasure in the large spurts of nervous energy pervading through the Gunners across the first half. A defence which began the season chasing down Chelsea’s Premier League benchmark of 15 goals conceded is suddenly susceptible to all the might of Randal Kolo Muani.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Champions League Race

“In your head, Arne, Arne, Arne,” Nottingham Forest fans chanted to the tune of ‘Zombie’ by the Cranberries for the vast majority of a dominant display against the reigning Premier League champions. Yet, by the end of a chaotic sequence of VAR decisions, it was Liverpool’s Arne Slot who soaked up the acclaim for a scarcely deserved 1–0 win.

“Happiness and relief” was the heady cocktail of emotions the Dutch boss was left to feel following a smash-and-grab triumph which saw Liverpool outshot 10 to 18. “The first half wasn’t good at all,” match-winner Alexis Mac Allister admitted. “The second half, I wouldn’t say it was good but it was better.”

However they cobbled their way to them, those three points could prove incredibly important when set to the backdrop of the devilishly tight race for Champions League qualification. Liverpool may be the side sitting in sixth but they are the ones given the best chance of joining Aston Villa and the division’s title challengers in the top six.

Chelsea slipped behind Manchester United in this week’s predictions with a second success Premier League draw at home to newly promoted opposition. Wesley Fofana’s boneheaded red card paved the way for an entirely avoidable stoppage-time equaliser from Zian Flemming at a corner. The complete breakdown in communication over who to mark almost contributed to a late winner from the visitors.

Supercomputer Predicts 2025–26 Relegation Battle

When Igor Tudor took on the daunting task of a Tottenham side in free fall, he was asked to rate the team’s chances of survival. “100%,” he declared ahead of Sunday’s derby. Opta’s supercomputer isn’t so optimistic, even if Spurs avoid a humiliating demotion in the vast majority of projected outcomes.

Despite ranking as the ninth richest club on the planet, Tottenham are expected to finish 16th in England’s top flight, below newly promoted Leeds United. Nottingham Forest, who were denied so cruelly by Liverpool at the City Ground this weekend, are only two points above West Ham United, yet remain considerably less likely to slip out of the division’s trap door than the east London outfit.

The Hammers were held to a goalless stalemate by Bournemouth this weekend but boast the momentum in this relegation shootout with Forest. Since losing to the Tricky Trees in the second week of January, West Ham have amassed almost twice as many points as Forest over the subsequent six league games (11 compared to six). Only five teams in the division have enjoyed a stronger run of form than Nuno Espírito Santo’s battlers.

Nuno’s former employers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, have taken just three points during this spell and are consigned to the drop by every onlooker. Burnley are likely to suffer the same fate, although their stoppage-time comeback against Chelsea proves that even clubs with seemingly nothing to play for can still bloody the nose of others.

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North London Derby day beckons, as relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur take on stuttering Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

A winless start to 2026, combined with a perilous league position, means Spurs finally parted ways with Thomas Frank after eight miserable months. So, former Juventus manager Igor Tudor will lead the Lilywhites into battle this weekend for a significant derby.

Tottenham missed out on derailing Arsenal’s title tilt two seasons ago, but they have a huge opportunity to kick their fiercest rivals while they’re down on home soil. Mikel Arteta’s side should be cantering towards the league title, but they’ve instead contrived to lose control of the race.

After collapsing late on against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday marked another setback, Arsenal’s grip on first place has been weakening at the wrong time of year.

Derby day is typically tense, and Sunday’s clash boasts huge ramifications at both ends of the table. While Arsenal are aiming to get their title charge back on track, Tudor has been tasked with steering Tottenham safely clear of the relegation zone. They’re just five points better off than West Ham United with 12 games to go.

Here’s Sports Illustrated’s preview of the North London Derby.

What Time Does Tottenham vs. Arsenal Kick-Off?

Location: London, England

Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Date: Saturday, Feb. 22

Kick-off Time: 4:30 p.m. GMT / 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT

Referee: Peter Bankes

VAR: Darren England

Tottenham vs. Arsenal Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

Tottenham: 0 wins

Arsenal: 4 wins

Draws: 1

Last meeting: Arsenal 4–1 Tottenham (Nov. 23, 2025)—Premier League

Current Form (All Competitions, Last Five Games)

How to Watch Tottenham vs. Arsenal on TV

MORE: Full list of Premier League broadcasters around the world

Tottenham Team News

Tottenham may have changed managers, but there’s been no miracle on the injury front since Tudor arrived. The Croatian expects to have no players back this weekend, and he also confirmed that Dominic Solanke’s week was disrupted by a sore throat.

The striker should be okay to start in Sunday’s derby, though.

Tudor has historically opted for a 3-4-2-1, but Tottenham’s available personnel may force a subtle tweak. Solanke could partner Randal Kolo Muani in attack, with Xavi Simons operating between the lines.

João Palhinha may be used in defence, given that Cristian Romero is suspended and Kevin Danso is still injured. Also on the sidelines are James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro, Wilson Odobert, Lucas Bergvall, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Ben Davies.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (3-4-1-2): Vicario; Palhinha, Dragusin, Van de Ven; Gray, Sarr, Gallagher, Spence; Xavi; Kolo Muani, Solanke.

Arsenal Team News

Arsenal have received a couple of timely boosts with the derby looking. Arteta has said that Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz could both be back in action this weekend.

Ødegaard has missed the last two games with a knee injury, while the muscle injury Havertz sustained was originally expected to keep him out until March. The captain’s return should see Bukayo Saka drift out wide again, having started in a central role against Wigan Athletic and Wolves.

Mikel Merino is absent due to a foot injury, and little is known about when young Max Dowman will make his comeback from a fitness setback.

Leandro Trossard should be fine after coming off late on at Molineux.

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham

Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Ødegaard, Trossard; Gyökeres.

Tottenham vs. Arsenal Score Prediction

Nothing but ignorance means plenty have been quick to write Tudor off, but he certainly has a knack of getting a tune out of a new group of players right away.

Thomas Frank’s removal and Arsenal’s sustained blip means N17 will be alive on derby day, with a fixture that so many were dreading now regarded as one that the hosts could potentially get something from.

Tudor’s aggressive principles out of possession could catch a few teams cold, and Tottenham should soon be drilled like an Italian regiment. However, he‘s only had a few days to work with this depleted group, and although Arsenal are floundering at the minute, it’s still a big ask for Spurs to snatch a result against a side that has utterly dominated the head-to-head duel as of late.

Prediction: Tottenham 1–2 Arsenal

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Mikel Arteta has called for calm in testing times for his Arsenal team, after they dropped points for the second Premier League game running on Wednesday night.

It wasn’t merely the surrendering of two points that has seen some factions of the fanbase cry crisis. The Gunners allowed one of the competition’s worst-ever teams to fight back from 2–0 down, having produced the meekest of performances against Wolves, bereft of a title-winning edge.

They do at least have the perfect opportunity to respond on derby day, although Sunday’s trip down Seven Sisters Road is suddenly one supporters are dreading as "bottling" murmurs increase in prominence.

This is a huge game, comically, at both ends of the table, with Arsenal knowing that they can sink their fiercest rivals further into the mire by returning to winning ways.

Match Snapshot

🕒 Kick-off time: 4:30 p.m. GMT, 11:30 a.m. ET, 8:30 a.m. PT

📍 Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

🏆 Competition: Premier League

📊 Recent form: DWDWW (all competitions)

Will Viktor Gyokeres Start Over Gabriel Jesus?

⚠️ Key absentees, doubts: Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, Max Dowman, Martin Ødegaard, Leandro Trossard

🔢 Predicted formation: 4-2-3-1

Arsenal have received a double injury boost in time for the derby, with Kai Havertz, who was initially expected to miss this fixture, and captain Martin Ødegaard back in contention for the away side.

While Arteta didn’t confirm that either player would be back in his matchday squad, they seem to be trending in the right direction.

However, Arsenal are without Mikel Merino due to a foot injury, as well as youngster Max Dowman. Leandro Trossard should be okay after his late withdrawal on Wednesday night, while Arteta must decide whether to stick with Viktor Gyökeres after a poor outing against Wolves or bring in Gabriel Jesus up top.

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Wolves

GK: David Raya—Arsenal’s goalkeeper came under scrutiny for his role in Wolves’ comeback on Wednesday night, and he’ll be hoping for a big performance in response at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

RB: Jurriën Timber—Timber has been off the boil as of late, with his limited attacking contribution no longer outweighed by outstanding defending. Ben White is waiting in the wings if things don’t improve.

CB: William Saliba—Saliba watched the mess unfold around him at Molineux, and his steady head will be needed on derby day.

CB: Gabriel—The Brazilian no longer has to shackle Harry Kane in this fixture, but it’s not yet clear how Tottenham will look in attack under Igor Tudor. The Croat could opt for a strike pairing and aim to occupy both of Arsenal’s excellent centre backs.

LB: Piero Hincapié—The subsequent collapse overshadowed Hincapié’s first Arsenal goal, which was nicely taken, and he certainly doesn’t deserve to lose his place.

DM: Martín Zubimendi—Supporters want to see more of Christian Nørgaard, but the Dane will only get minutes off the bench, if any at all, on Sunday. Arteta’s going to stick with Zubimendi.

DM: Declan Rice—It’s time for Rice to grab this nervous Arsenal side by the scruff of the neck and pull them through this tricky period.

RW: Bukayo Saka—Playing Saka centrally is an option, but Arteta is likely to welcome back at least one key player in attack, which should facilitate Saka’s return to the flank.

AM: Martin Ødegaard—If the captain is ready to go, expect him to come straight back into the starting XI. Eberechi Eze had his one big day in the reverse fixture, but Arteta will likely turn to familiarity in order to get his team ticking again.

LW: Leandro Trossard—Gabriel Martinelli has played his way out of the team, so Trossard, who fatefully went off in stoppage time on Wednesday, is likely to get the nod.

ST: Viktor Gyökeres—Arsenal desperately need Kai Havertz, but the German might not be ready to start right away. As a result, Spurs’ depleted backline will get to feast on Gyökeres in N17.

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Hamburg manager Merlin Polzin has expressed his desire to extend the loan deal of impressive Tottenham Hotspur teenager Luka Vušković.

The 18-year-old joined the German side last summer and has since become instrumental to HSV’s survival bid. Starting all but two of their league matches, the talented central defender has scored four goals and won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month on three separate occasions.

Despite acknowledging the difficulty of retaining Vušković on loan for the 2026–27 season, Polzin made a public plea to keep the Croatian for another term.

“I’m a man of conviction. Of course, I also believe in things that seem impossible, even if they’re just a bit romantic about football,” the Hamburg manager said, as reported by Bild. “Nevertheless, there’s a clear contractual agreement between the clubs.

“We’re very grateful that we found a solution last summer. It was very clear from the start with Luka’s camp that he only wanted to join HSV. The communication with Tottenham is extremely professional, both last summer and now. We’d be very interested in him continuing to wear the HSV jersey.”

Luka Vuskovic Hailed for Astonishing Ascent

Tottenham’s £12 million ($16.1 million) outlay on Vušković now appears an absolute steal. The youngster, who made his senior Croatia debut in June and should feature at the 2026 World Cup, has been a transformative figure for Hamburg.

Not only has Vušković been a defensive powerhouse for Die Rothosen, he’s proven extremely capable with the ball at his feet and a regular attacking provider from set pieces—his extraordinary scorpion kick in the 3–2 victory over Werder Bremen was even voted as the Bundesliga’s Goal of the Month for December.

“It’s not just about winning headers and tackles or scoring goals: he’s somebody who can organise a defence. That’s something you find very rarely,” Germany legend and Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthäus said of Vušković last month.

“At the age of 18, he plays as if he had already played three World Cups! Even when I was 30, I didn’t see what he saw at 18.”

Vušković was even named Bundesliga Player of the Season for the first half of the campaign, scooping 60% of the vote and beating the likes of Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Michael Olise in the polls.

How Luka Vuskovic’s Brother Could Influence Summer Decision

Spurs will almost certainly want Vušković to return to north London after his appearance at the World Cup, welcoming a much-needed warm body into a struggling side lacking depth in the heart of defence. That issue could be exacerbated by the potential exit of Cristian Romero over the summer.

However, Vušković has admitted he’s open to staying in the Bundesliga with HSV, insisting no final decision has been made on his short or long-term future.

“I don’t know what will happen; we’ll talk about that in the summer. Tottenham is also being talked about because I’m their player until 2030,” he told TPortal. "So, after my eventual appearance at the World Cup, we’ll see what we’ll do and how to proceed. As for me, I wouldn’t mind staying at HSV, in fact.”

Vušković’s brother, Mario, currently plays for Hamburg, but is serving a four-year doping ban which won’t be completed until November 2026. To play with his brother, the Tottenham loanee will have to extend his stay in Germany, something he’s opened up about previously.

“Mario should start playing in the fall, so I’d get the chance to play with him, which is my biggest wish at the moment. You know how football is, you never know what will happen.”

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Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the appointment of Igor Tudor as interim manager until the end of the season.

Having parted ways with Thomas Frank earlier this week, Spurs quickly decided they wanted to follow Manchester United’s lead by finding a temporary boss to steer them through until the end of the season, with Tudor finalising a switch to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

“It is an honour to join this Club at an important moment,” Tudor said as his move was confirmed.

“I understand the responsibility I have been handed and my focus is clear. To bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match.

“There is strong quality in this playing squad, and my job is to organise it, energise it and improve our results quickly.”

Tottenham Reveal Demands of Tudor

Tudor joins Spurs at a tricky stage of the season. With just 12 games to go, the Lilywhites sit just five points above the relegation zone, with a north London derby against league leaders Arsenal on the calendar next weekend.

Getting anything positive out of this season has long been written off, but Spurs are wary of sleepwalking into a genuine nightmare and have taken the unique step of publicising their challenge for Tudor.

“His mandate is straightforward—bring organisation, intensity and competitive edge to the squad at a decisive stage of the campaign,” a statement read.

Tudor, whose last post lasted just 24 games at the helm of Juventus across 2025, must balance Premier League survival with a continued push for impressive performances in the Champions League. Despite their domestic woes, Spurs automatically qualified for the round of 16 in Europe’s top competition.

“Igor brings clarity, intensity and experience of stepping into challenging moments and producing impact,” sporting director Johan Lange added.

“Our objective is straightforward—to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League.”

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Tottenham Hotspur have seemingly decided that Igor Tudor is the manager they want leading the team until the end of the season, having dismissed Thomas Frank this week.

It quickly became apparent that Spurs intended to go down a similar route to Manchester United when Ruben Amorim was given the boot, choosing a short-term hire for the next few months, before settling on a permanent candidate in the summer.

Spurs legend Robbie Keane was a name in the frame until it was made clear the Irishman, who has enjoyed success during spells with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ferencváros in his fledgling managerial career, would only leave the latter for something more than an interim role.

Ex-Borussia Dortmund managers Marco Rose and Edin Terzić have also been considered, though it’s unclear at this stage whether or not they could be in the running long-term.

But Tudor, a former Juventus and Croatia centre back who started the 2003 Champions League final and finished third at the World Cup in 1998, is set to have the reins for the next 15 weeks.

Sat 16th in the Premier League, if Spurs get this wrong they could be relegated for the first time since 1978.

Igor Tudor and His Risky Style of Play

Since starting his managerial career with hometown club Hajduk Split in 2013, Tudor has developed a brand of physically-demanding football characterised by intense pressing.

Whether Spurs have the players to do that—and stay healthy—is a point of debate. The squad is already 12 players light because of injuries, with five of those hamstring and thigh problems. They cannot afford to lose more players in the final stretch and clearly something—both this season and last—has been leading to such problems. An intense approach may not be the right fit.

Still, it’s a tactical style that favours attacking—perhaps ironic for a former defender.

Tottenham’s defensive record in the Premier League this season is the same as fourth-place Manchester United (37 goals conceded), but their output in front of goal is consistent with the bottom-half teams around them. They have scored the same number of goals (36) as 15th-place Leeds United, have scored only two more than Brighton & Hove Albion in 14th and just four more than West Ham United behind them in the relegation zone.

If Tudor can pull more goals out of the squad at his disposal, it would go a long way.

Lack of Direct Experience

This is not to say that Spurs should have looked up Sean Dyche’s number—although there could have been some merit to such a short-term deal in the circumstances—but bringing in a manager with zero track record in English football is a gamble.

Tudor spent his entire playing career in Croatia and Italy, primarily a backup during his peak years at Juventus. He’s managed clubs in Croatia, Greece, Türkiye, Italy and France, with most of his 11 prior appointments over before reaching 50 games and not extending into a second calendar year.

His jobs haven’t lasted long, but joining a club midseason is at least something he’s used to, having done it. He’s actually done that more often than starting a new job off-season and the initial results have tended to be good, notably securing Champions League qualification for Juve in 2024–25.

The connection that made Tudor an option was his work alongside former Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici at Juventus in 2020–21, when he was assistant to Andrea Pirlo.

Door Left Open for Mauricio Pochettino’s Return

It’s not so much relevant to Tudor specifically, but taking the interim route until summer fits a convenient timeline that would allow for the second coming of Mauricio Pochettino.

Even though it was Ange Postecoglou who finally broke the trophy drought last season, the Argentine has been the best Spurs boss of the Premier League era, delivering results more consistently and over a longer period than Harry Redknapp or Martin Jol.

To get him now would be expensive, perhaps almost £22 million ($30 million) to break him out of his contract with as United States men’s national team boss mere months out from the World Cup.

But that contract ends once the World Cup is over, leaving Pochettino free to go back to north London should he, and the club, so wish. Since a shock dismissal in 2019, within six months of the Champions League final, he’s made no secret on several occasions of his desire to return.

“I still feel in my heart that, yes, I would like one day to come back,” he said most recently.

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Results may have waned, fans may have turned and the hamstrings of his centre backs may have been torn to tatters, but through it all, Ange Postecoglou has always had a brilliant turn of phrase.

This is the self-styled “old man shouting at clouds” whose criticism of VAR turned into existential questions about the character of human beings as a species en masse. “Every time I’ve seen the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s usually been an oncoming train,” Postecoglou memorably lamented towards the end of his doomed tenure at Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite Europa League glory, Postecoglou couldn’t find a way off the tracks. A year and a half on from his divisive sacking, the coach turned his rapier wit onto his former employers during a deliciously embittered appearance on The Overlap.

Thomas Frank Was Always Doomed

Any interview with Postecoglou is usually entertaining—for everyone who isn’t asking the questions—but Gary Neville and his cabal of cackling cohorts lucked out when the news of Thomas Frank’s sacking broke on the morning of recording.

Naturally, this was the first topic of conversation. Postecoglou admitted it was “tough” for Frank, who “can’t be the only issue at the club,” but effectively warned that his dismissal was in the post from the start of the season.

Long-serving Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, the driving force behind the club for the past two decades, left his position of direct influence a matter of weeks into the season. In the eyes of Postecoglou, Tottenham have not stopped reeling from this upheaval.

“It’s made a major pivot at the end of last year, not just with me, but with Daniel [Levy] leaving as well,” he reflected. “They’ve had world class managers there. They haven’t had success. And for what reason? What was the reason for such a major pivot? Thomas is walking but what’s his objective? What’s the club’s objective?”

Postecoglou dismissed Tottenham’s public goal of competing on all fronts and questioned whether Frank demonstrated complicit naïvety when taking the job: “Did Thomas Frank know that he was walking into that? I don’t know.”

What Frank was walking into, for Postecoglou, is a club dealing with an identity crisis.

Tottenham Are ‘Not a Big Club’

The main crux of Postecoglou’s interview was a topic that has tormented fans for years. Spurs have the infrastructure and revenue figures of a “big club,” but they don’t act like one.

“Obviously, they’ve built an unbelievable stadium, unbelievable training facilities. But when you look at the expenditure, particularly in the wage structure, they’re not a big club,” Postecoglou bluntly outlined.

According to the latest published accounts for the 2024–25 season, which Postecoglou oversaw, Spurs boast the fifth-largest revenue of any Premier League team, outstripping Chelsea. Yet, they tallied the seventh-highest wage bill in the division over the same time period.

Postecoglou’s argument was that these funds were not invested in the talents supposedly befitting a big club: “I saw that, because when we were trying to sign players, we weren’t in the market for those players.”

Postecoglou’s Failed Transfer Targets

Tottenham were perennially accused of overt caution in the transfer market under Levy—a reputation which extends to the new-look regime if Cristian Romero’s social media posts are anything to go by. Yet, during Postecoglou’s two seasons at the helm (2023–25), Tottenham recorded the largest net spend of any Premier League club. The issue for the outspoken Australian was the identity of these individuals, rather than the cost.

“At the end of my first year, when we finished fifth, for me, O.K., how do you go from fifth to really challenging? Well, we had to sign Premier League-leading players,” Postecoglou argued.

“But finishing fifth that year didn’t get us Champions League, we didn’t have the money. So we ended up signing Dom Solanke,” Postecoglou fretted when looking back on the club’s record arrival. In fairness to the striker, Postecoglou was “really keen on him” and “really liked him” but had a lower opinion of the “three teenagers.”

Spurs splashed around £135 million ($184.2 million) in the summer of 2024 alone, adding Archie Gray (then 18), Wilson Odobert (19) and Lucas Bergvall (18) as well as Solanke. Postecoglou had more experienced targets—who just so happened to go to be signed by and impress for elite Premier League clubs.

“I was looking at Pedro Neto, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Antoine] Semenyo at the time, Marc Guéhi, because I said we need ... If we’re going to go from fifth to there, that’s what the other big clubs would do in that moment,” Postecoglou declared, using the full breadth and width of the power of hindsight.

Postecoglou’s Missed Targets

“And those three teenagers are outstanding young players,” he added, unconvincingly. “Brilliant young players. I think they’ll be great players for Tottenham, but they’re not going to get you from fifth to fourth but what’s coming out from the club is, ‘We’re a club that can compete on all fronts.’”

“'I still felt Tottenham as a club were saying, ‘We’re one of the big boys’ and the reality is I don’t think they are in terms of my experience,” Postecoglou added, before turning to the direct comparison which no Spurs fan ever wants.

“When Arsenal need players they’ll spend £100 million on Declan Rice, I don’t see Tottenham doing that,” he pointed out. “Not just my history, even predating me. A lot of that was, ‘O.K. we’re building a stadium’ so obviously finances were a challenge.”

“When was the last time Tottenham really signed somebody who you go, wow?” was Postecoglou’s glaring takeaway.

Spursiness Is Real

Jamie Carragher, never one to miss the chance to twist the knife, drilled into the topic of “Spursiness,” that subconscious trait of lacking belief which has so often been levelled at the club over the past two decades. Postecoglou confirmed all the outside noise.

“100% there is, absolutely and that was the thing I was trying to break and my whole statement about winning things in the second year, I was doing that for the club because nobody internally would dare say that, they were just scared,” he insisted.

“Then you break that by winning something and what do you do? You tear it all up and you start again. That’s the curiosity, what are you trying to achieve?”

Postecoglou turned to one moment on the day of last year’s Europa League final, which proved to be the setting for Tottenham’s first trophy win since 2008. Daniel Levy came into the team hotel and let the weight of history seep out of him onto Postecoglou. “The only thing he said to me—which was bizarre as a motivational point—was something like, ‘You know what, I’ve been in seven finals or semi-finals and we haven’t won one,’” the former manager recalled in disbelief.

“I know why he said that, because of that [Spursiness], so that’s what I’m saying.”

The Real Cause of Tottenham’s Downfall

As Postecoglou was at pains to point, Tottenham’s neuroses existed long before his tumultuous two-year reign. Yet the club never sunk to the depths of the relegation battles they are currently fighting. Postecoglou’s diagnosis was simple: It all comes back to Harry Kane.

“People underestimate the role Harry played over the past 10 years,” Postecoglou pointed out when looking back on the club’s all-time top scorer, who left Spurs for Bayern Munich in the same summer the 60-year-old was appointed. “He’s unbelievable. I only worked with him for a couple of months, but he is the best player I have witnessed close up in my whole career.

“We played the last friendly game and I was still hoping against hope he would stay and he scored four goals.

“We played Shakhtar, the next week were playing Brentford and I know he’s not going to be there. And it’s not like he leaves and we go and sign Erling Haaland.”

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Real Madrid are a team focused on opportunities when it comes to the transfer market. They have been known for tracking players who are upcoming free agents, with Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold examples of that.

They also take advantage of other situations, and that is what they are reportedly looking to do with regard to Premier League Tottenham Hotspur.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid are looking at signing a player they have been chasing for some time. Center-back Cristian Romero has been on the club's radar for some time, and Los Blancos may look to take advantage of the current situation.

Tottenham Future Unclear for Cristian Romero

It's been made clear by reports that Real Madrid want a center-back this summer, possibly two. Tottenham captain Cristian Romero is one player that has been on the shortlist for some time, as has is partner Micky van de Ven.

However, it's the Argentinian who is a top target, with Romero seen as a perfect addition to the back-line. This is due to his experience and his style of play suiting how Los Blancos play. The club believes there is a big chance of signing him this summer.

The current situation is one that could work in their favour. Spurs are very close to the relegation zone, something that is unheard of when it comes to them. Only last season, they were crowned Europa League Champions, and now they are close to the drop.

The poor run of form was enough to see head coach Thomas Frank sacked this past week. That means Romero has played under multiple head coaches during his time at the club, and would likely want more than a Europa League to show for it.

Now Romero is 27, he could want a move to a bigger team, with the possibility of challenging for league titles and the Champions League. That puts Real Madrid in an excellent position, but other clubs such as Atletico|Madrid are also interested in the World Cup winner.

Los Blancos have a long list of center-backs they are interested in. Romero would not be cheap, but he could be a player who involves less negotiation due to the situation at Tottenham. It would be a marquee signing for Real Madrid, who need experience and solid defensive players.

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Wayne Rooney has warned Tottenham Hotspur that they have landed themselves in a relegation battle after their defeat to his former employers Manchester United on Saturday.

United’s 2–0 win over a 10-man Spurs outfit left Thomas Frank’s side 15th in the Premier League standings, just six points above the relegation zone after 18th-placed West Ham United boosted their own survival hopes with victory over Burnley.

“You’d have to say they are [in a relegation battle] with their current form,” the legendary former striker told The Wayne Rooney Show.

“West Ham have been in form, Nottingham Forest pick up results here and there. You can’t think that they’re not in a relegation battle where they are. I think they’ll definitely be looking over their shoulders.”

Is Relegation a Genuine Concern for Tottenham?

There has long been a suggestion that some clubs are simply “too big” to be relegated. We’ve seen Chelsea flirt with the drop zone in 2015–16, while Manchester United were down there last season, and fellow ‘Big Six’ members Spurs are one of those who sit in that bracket—surely these teams can’t go down?

The very-real concern for Spurs, however, is that, unlike their rivals, this season has not been a one-off. They finished 17th last year under Ange Postecoglou, and while it’s fair to say they tanked the end of the campaign to prioritise winning the Europa League, they were still a bottom-half side at this point of the previous campaign.

Indeed, after 25 games last season under Postecoglou, Spurs had 30 points to their name, one more than they currently boast under Frank. Crucially, there was a 13-point gap to the relegation zone at this point last year, more than twice the cushion currently afforded to them.

On paper, Spurs should have the quality to breeze away from this point, but winning games has proven a real challenge. 2025 brought just 11 victories in the Premier League—of all the teams to spend the entire calendar year in the top flight, only bottom-side Wolverhampton Wanderers and relegation-threatened West Ham managed fewer (eight).

Still waiting for their first win of 2026, the clock is ticking for Spurs to figure things out before the teams below them find a solution to their own domestic woes.

Given Spurs’ recent form, things could be about to get worse before they get better.

Tottenham’s Next Five Premier League Matches

An unforgiving run of five tough fixtures is followed by a home meeting with Nottingham Forest, currently 17th and three points behind. The importance of that fixture on March 22, before the international break, now cannot be overstated.

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