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As Igor Tudor walked into the Tottenham Hotspur dressing room after that defeat to Arsenal, he carried the air of a man realising just how big this challenge is. His message to the players was much the same as the one he relayed to the media: it’s time to look in the mirror. Because right now, that squad is staring at something that had still seemed impossible for so long. They’re in a relegation battle. Spurs, one of the Super League founders and currently among the wealthiest clubs in the world, could go down.

Some Tottenham fans reading this will no doubt be screaming that they’ve been warning of this for months, that the club has long been in real danger of sleepwalking into relegation. In attempting to take a non-supporter view, though, it was hard not to think the squad simply had too much quality. The wage bill was too high, suggesting there was just enough individual class.

Except the reality is that the situation has now gone far beyond that. This is no longer about quality. As Tudor rightly intuited, this is about psychology, about emotion, about the swirl engulfing the club.

There is also another element, running parallel to Tottenham’s form, further squeezing the club.

There is now considerable evidence to suggest this is the most competitive Premier League in a decade, since Leicester City’s title season of 2015–16. And we’re beyond simply a more difficult league, as discussed in Inside Football recently. There’s more to it – something the Premier League should actually be delighted about. Its unique selling point is back, and has never been more evident.

And that could yet create more havoc.

Taking the most immediate metric – and one that Spurs inadvertently contributed to – the 36 points between first place and the relegation zone is the lowest at this stage, after matchweek 27, since 2015–16. Back then, it was 32. Now, it would be 35, had Arsenal’s away match against Wolves not been brought forward due to the Carabao Cup final.

The nature of that 2-2 draw was rightly seen as a mini-crisis for Arsenal, to the point that Mikel Arteta spent a long time discussing it even after the 4-1 win over Spurs. But it can also be true that a draw away to the bottom team isn’t necessarily the defining result in the way it would have been in previous seasons.

Wolves are, after all, the 29th wealthiest club in the world. They might have only won one game so far this season, but they haven’t lost badly. Their worst defeat was 4-0 on the opening day, against Manchester City, before the managerial switch that stabilised the side. As referenced earlier in this newsletter, and in a stat that has conspicuously barely changed, that game is one of only six Premier League matches this season to involve defeats of a four-goal margin or higher.

This is astonishingly low for this late in the campaign, with 11 matchweeks left. By comparison, even “the Leicester season” saw 20 such results, and the number was as high as 32 in 2023–24.

This shows the gaps between teams aren’t as wide but it has another effect too. The top teams – especially those chasing the title – can’t take their foot off the gas. They can’t simply make four substitutions to rest players when cruising. They have to stay fully switched on, as witnessed in Arsenal’s draw with Wolves and in so many of Man City’s recent matches.

That only deepens the physical and mental fatigue caused by a congested calendar. And it’s impossible not to see how this contributes to another telling statistic. City’s nervy win over Newcastle United was their third in a row, which put Pep Guardiola’s side on the longest winning streak in the Premier League. Only Liverpool are currently even on two wins in a row.

The low stakes of these streaks have been a feature of the season. Stumbling Aston Villa – whose late equaliser against Leeds United might still prove crucial in the race to secure a Champions League place – have the longest streak at just eight. After that, it’s City on six, and Arsenal and Liverpool on five each.

This only proves how difficult it is to generate momentum. Teams can’t put winning runs together in the same way as previous years. There’s a high degree of fallibility, which makes for greater unpredictability – anyone can beat anyone.

The reasons for this are fairly clear, and almost mirror what happened after 2015–16. Then, much of the focus was on how wealthy clubs responded by appointing the biggest managers in the game, when Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte joined Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, and Mauricio Pochettino. But they were also doing something more significant.

They were involved in discussions that drove even more Champions League prize money to the wealthiest clubs, as the “Super League” group exploited the vacuum at Uefa and Fifa following the 2015 fall of Sepp Blatter. This directly paved the way for the Super League and influenced the new Champions League. The wealthy clubs got what they long wanted – but it might be too much.

They may genuinely have bitten off more than they can chew – at least for now. The expanded Champions League has become an unintended balancing factor in European football. The greater number of games mitigates the effect of wealth, due to fatigue.

In the Premier League, there’s been a further counterbalance from the massive influx of money over the past 13 years. Even clubs at the bottom have sophisticated coaching staffs and squads that could steamroll most of Europe. Wolves are difficult to break down. West Ham United have gained new respectability. Nottingham Forest have a solid mid-table squad.

There’s even an argument that Burnley are performing better than Spurs. All of which is bad news for the one-time Super League club, even if they were always considered a junior partner.

The sheer competitiveness of the Premier League could see them fall, sleepwalking into relegation as Middlesbrough did in 1997, West Ham in 2003, Newcastle in 2009, or Leicester in 2023 – but potentially on a much greater scale. The second half of that Arsenal defeat was alarming in that regard.

Sunday’s trip to Fulham may now be the biggest fixture of the weekend, revealing what Tottenham can actually achieve under Tudor.

The message from the rest of the league, however, is clear: you’ve never had to be sharper.

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Igor Tudor remains defiant in the face of Tottenham’s deepening Premier League crisis, insisting there is "enough time" to steer the club away from relegation despite a painful 4-1 defeat to rivals Arsenal.

The manager has backed his under-performing squad to improve with dedicated work on the training pitch.

The heavy loss leaves Spurs languishing in 16th place, just four points clear of the bottom three with 11 games remaining.

Tudor was parachuted in to replace the sacked Thomas Frank, tasked with orchestrating a mid-season turnaround akin to his past successes at Juventus and Lazio, following a dismal run of only two league wins in four months.

"Of course there is enough time," Tudor insisted, reflecting on the derby performance.

"I saw the passion, I saw the will, so I was not angry because they wanted to do (it), but then they were not able to do in this moment the things."

He acknowledged the team's desire but highlighted their current inability to execute, stating: "Why we are not able to do is the question we resolve and I speak from day one at the club, I come here to resolve the problems."

Emphasising the need for a fundamental shift, Tudor added: "You believe that in three or four trainings you will do your best but when the game starts you don’t know what will happen because it is like this – but as I said before, Tuesday, I come in, everyone there and stay humble. That is the key."

He stressed the collective effort required: "Stay humble, that is the key for each of us and try to become what I said before – a team, a squad, a hard-working team. That is the only goal we have now in this moment."

Tudor’s immediate impact has been hampered by a challenging fixture against league leaders Arsenal and a significant injury crisis, with 12 players sidelined.

This forced Archie Gray, Djed Spence, and Joao Palhinha to play out of their natural positions.

However, there is hope for the upcoming trip to Fulham, with defenders Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso potentially returning.

Tudor commented on the unprecedented situation: "Yeah, probably two of them (back). We hope. This is a situation that I never saw. That we have 10 (outfield) players plus three (bench) players. Now we need to restart again and waiting for the players who are out."

Despite the team's struggles and the emptying stands by full-time, the home supporters maintained a "raucous atmosphere" throughout the derby.

Defender Micky van de Ven praised their unwavering loyalty: "The fans were unbelievable. I have to give credits to them for the full 90 minutes.

“I know it’s also a really tough situation for them but how they kept standing behind us, it was really important. We felt it as well. We wanted to do everything to give them something back but unfortunately we couldn’t."

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has warned that Tottenham Hotspur are in serious danger of relegation after the team’s embarrassing 4-1 defeat at the hands of rivals Arsenal.

New manager Igor Tudor took charge of his first game as Spurs boss but it ended in a damaging defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze both scoring a brace to restore the Gunners to a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

And while Spurs briefly fought back to go level at half-time, the subsequent collapse and lack of threat in the second half will be cause for concern for Tudor, with the club now in 16th and in real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the full-time whistle, Redknapp called the game “a complete mismatch”, adding that Spurs could be relegated if they aren’t careful.

”They [Arsenal] were so much better than Tottenham, it was like two different leagues. If Tottenham aren't careful, they might be in a different league.

“They cannot keep performing like this. They've not had a win in 2026,” added the former England midfielder.

As mentioned by Redknapp, Tottenham are without a win in the league in 2026, while they have also exited the FA Cup at the hands of Aston Villa.

And though they have advanced to the knockout rounds of the Champions League, that will be of little consolation to a side that has four draws and five losses in nine league games in 2026.

But while the threat of relegation looms over the club, new manager Igor Tudor emphasised his confidence in Spurs escaping the drop, explaining that “these are good players with bad habits”.

“They are good players, nobody can tell me they don't have quality. We need to change [a] mental switch and have this mental sharpness to be in the game in the first to second minutes,” added the Croatian.

The result leaves Tottenham in 16th after 28 games, just four points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham with 10 games remaining, and Tudor’s side will face Fulham in the league next week before a string of potentially tricky matches against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

When a chastened Igor Tudor emerged after Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-1 collapse to Arsenal, the interim coach was asked whether the display said more about his team’s problems or the qualities of what he described as “the best team in the world”, the response was simply: “Both things”.

He added: “There is a big gap between the teams.”

There certainly was in the scoreline, where Spurs were fortunate the defeat wasn’t much larger. That in turn made it one of those matches where, as Tudor indicated, it told a lot about both teams. There were two major storylines, that could yet come together for an Arsenal dream.

They could finally win the title, in the same season that Spurs are relegated.

This result at least made that prospect a touch likelier. The overall performance was meanwhile of such a nature that it was impossible not to start thinking that it was potentially as important for the relegation battle as it was for the title race.

That’s how bad Spurs got.

That made it an even better day for Arsenal. Almost everything went for them.

Had it stayed a mere 2-1, after all, the major discussion would probably have been about Viktor Gyokeres.

This may have been an arrival moment, in what felt like his first really big moment for Arsenal. People could no doubt quip that this was more flat-track bullying against lower-table opposition, but the context of the goal was huge. Arsenal badly needed a victory in what had by then been an emotionally intense derby. Gyokeres produced when needed. That is what he has been signed for.

If Gyokeres was the match-winner, though, Eberechi Eze was the player who ran it.

That’s now five goals in two games against his club’s greatest rivals.

And from that, when the teams were announced before the game, it was easy to understand why Arteta put the playmaker in midfield. Eze’s earlier hat-trick amplified a good record against Spurs, and a good feeling he has when facing them, something to continue.

Arteta further elaborated on that afterwards.

“I could see that he wanted to prove something. He was upset, even with me, because I didn’t play him the other day from the beginning, and some of the decisions that I made. And I just have to understand how we’re going to get the best out of him now.”

While Eze’s goals offered the headlines on his performance, though, the nature of his play felt even more significant for what next – for getting the best out of him, in the way Arteta talks. He can make Arsenal better, too, as seen with how proactive he was.

Eze’s passes were constantly speeding play up and moving Arsenal further up the pitch.

That is crucial because it has been an element badly missing from the team over the past few games. Arsenal have felt more constrained, while lacking that fluency and perceptiveness in attack. They were missing a dimension.

Eze offered it all.

Some of that problem had obviously been linked to the angst surrounding the team over this very title race, which was why the win was as important as anything.

It was just as telling that, on being asked about the victory, Arteta first talked a lot about the 2-2 draw with Wolves.

“I cannot be prouder and happier for what I’ve seen out there, but especially the way we lived the last 72 hours, because I think this game in particular needed some context, and after what happened against Wolves and the manner that we lost two points in the last kick of the game, it was tough. But that’s the beauty of this game, I mean, there is no explanation watching the game back, how the hell you draw that game.

“But it happened, and then you have to lift yourself up because you’re feeling angry, upset, [and] ashamed at some point. And we are all different nationalities, we all have different feelings, and then you have to bring everybody together. And it’s been a joy to spend that time together with them, to align everybody and to say, ‘OK, what is going to be happening in the next chapter? This one is gone, how do we use it to be a turning point and to make ourselves better?’”

There were a number of other headline quotes, so relevant to a race that is starting to turn into the run-in.

“It feels like we show what we are made of but then you have to show it again and again and again,” said Arteta. “This is not a job. When you are disappointed about what you’ve done in your job, you don’t feel that way.

“It’s much bigger than that. That’s our passion, it’s the purpose that we have, the objective that we have, it’s what we love doing, and then it’s very painful. But as well it can be very rewarding. And today, football shows you that, keep going, whatever you do. You win, keep going. If you lose, keep going. Because it is worth it, especially with the people that we have in this club.”

Finally, there was a line that will be so relevant to Spurs.

“And when it’s really on the edge and people are doubting, that’s when you have to stand up.”

Some at Spurs would bristle at taking any advice from Arsenal, but it’s become a recurring theme. Tudor was just the latest coach to talk about how good their great rivals are, as he admitted a game like this made him more deeply realise the scale of the challenge.

“You never know because this is a situation that I never saw,” he said.

It is remarkable to think now that the build-up around this game had been about whether a Spurs change of coach would restore an edge and take advantage of Arsenal at a vulnerable moment. Some in the visiting side had even taken note of the pre-game gee-up by the Spurs stadium announcer.

“Sometimes there’s a fire to be lit,” it went. “They’re nervous as hell. We’re calm. We’re ready...”

They were ready to be hammered. While Spurs did initially play with the necessary emotional intensity, that naturally dissipated, as the team was dissected. By the end, they could barely muster proper challenges, and an Arsenal under less pressure could well have claimed a victory of a historic scale.

That’s what made the second half so alarming. Spurs fans have rightly been screaming for months about their concerns, but for so long it was hard not to feel they have too much quality – especially with injuries.

Now, we’re arguably past that. It might well be about psychology, and the type of “negative spiral” once mentioned after one of these fixtures.

One of key elements of Thomas Frank’s departure, after all, was supposed to be the long-awaited removal of so much toxicity. And that was the case at the start of this match. But it absolutely wasn’t the case by the end.

The toxicity was arguably worse, because there are no obvious solutions. This team has a battle.

It was so good for Arsenal, meanwhile, that Arteta could joke about the hold-ups when the referee communications failed.

“Every time we are late out of the dressing room, we get huge fines!”

Here, they’ve got a huge win, that may have considerable impact in multiple ways.

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott praised the “best performance” he’s seen from striker Viktor Gyokeres after the Sweden international’s brace in the 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Gyokeres swept in a superb first goal to re-establish Arsenal’s lead shortly after half-time, before rounding off the win with a well-taken second – and Arsenal’s fourth – in stoppage time, shrugging off the challenge from Archie Gray before curling in an accomplished finish.

While the goals will grab the headlines, it was a superb overall performance from Arsenal’s summer signing, who also provided a vital touch in the build-up to Arsenal’s third goal.

And Gyokeres came in for plenty of praise from Sky Sports pundits after the final whistle, with Walcott calling the display “the best performance I've ever seen from him”.

“Not just the goals, I felt today that he really commanded that position. He knew where the weakness was in that Tottenham team. It was from minute one, he showed everything that we expected him to bring to this league,” explained Walcott.

“What I really like is this finish [for the second goal], which he’ll do every day in training, it’s fantastic. It was the link play [too], he brought the best out of the others around him.

“It was a really important moment for him, [he was] a massive signing, and then want to give him time,” he added.

Fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp agreed, adding that he “bullied” Tottenham’s defence.

“[It was] a big day for him, he was excellent, the touches, I am very pleased for him because he has had a lot of stick,” added Redknapp.

The goals mean Gyokeres has scored more in 2026 across all competitions than any other Premier League player, with eight of his 15 total goals for the Gunners coming this calendar year. He is the club’s top scorer in the league this term, with eight goals.

And Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was also full of praise for his striker, calling the display the best, the most complete” performance so far from the 27-year-old.

“When we need him most and that is when big players and big clubs have to stand up when you are needed.

“He was outstanding today, I thought. There have been glimmers of it every week but today, I thought he was fantastic,” added the Spaniard.

The 4-1 win takes Arsenal five points clear at the top of the league, though Manchester City have a game in hand ahead of next week’s round of fixtures, with Pep Guardiola’s side facing Leeds and the Gunners taking on Chelsea on Super Sunday.

Tottenham host rivals Arsenal in a north London derby where there is plenty on the line at both ends of the Premier League table.

Leaders Arsenal faced “bottlers” jibes after blowing a two-goal lead to draw at Wolves on Wednesday, with Manchester City closing the gap to Mikel Arteta’s side to just two points after beating Newcastle last night.

Tottenham would love to further dent Arsenal’s title hopes, but Spurs are desperate for three points to ease relegation concerns as new boss Igor Tudor takes charge for the first time since replacing Thomas Frank.

Tudor takes charge of a Tottenham side who are just four points clear of the bottom three after West Ham’s draw at home to Bournemouth yesterday. They are also without a win in eight Premier League games.

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal meet in a crucial Premier League clash as the North London rivals collide.

Spurs begin life under Igor Tudor looking to deal another blow to the league leaders after Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead against Wolves in midweek.

Tudor has been brought in to replace the dismissed Thomas Frank on a deal until the end of the season, and will need to spark a turnaround in form with Tottenham far from out of the relegation fight.

Success on derby day would represent an excellent start and prompt more questions over Mikel Arteta’s visitors.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Tottenham vs Arsenal is due to kick off at 4.30pm GMT on Sunday 22 February at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on the channels from 4pm. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW.

Richarlison has returned to first-team training for Tottenham, and may be considered for a matchday role. Pedro Porro is also nearing fitness, though there remains a long list of injury absentees for Igor Tudor to contend with. Cristian Romero is suspended, which may l

Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz could both be back to bolster the Arsenal squad and leave Mikel Arteta with a few tough selection decisions to make.

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Van de Ven; Porro, Gallagher, Palhinha, Spence; Kolo Muani, Solanke, Simons.

Tottenham vs Arsenal betting tips

Tottenham Hotspur take on Arsenal in a north London derby in the Premier League on Sunday, with the visitors looking to maintain their lead at the top of the table as the title race heats up once more.

The Gunners make the trip across the capital having seen their lead extended by just one point after the midweek draw to Wolves, but are still the favourites in the Premier League odds to take the crown to the red side of north London for the first time since 2004.

However, that draw means City can cut the gap at the top to just two points if they win this weekend, so this game against Spurs has taken on even more importance than usual for the Gunners.

However, while any derby is a tricky game to navigate no matter the gap between the two sides, the visitors arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on a Spurs side in turmoil, with Thomas Frank having been sacked just over a week ago.

Former Juventus boss Igor Tudor is the man tasked with steadying the ship until the end of the season, though he will have to contest with the same squad depth and injury issues as those that plagued his predecessor, and the mood around the club is notably negative ahead of the visit of their biggest rivals.

And while Arsenal have struggled in recent weeks, the Gunners are still huge favourites despite being the away side, with betting sites pricing Arteta’s men at odds-on to get the win this weekend compared to odds of 5/1 for a Spurs victory.

Tottenham vs Arsenal prediction: No dream start for Tudor

Arsenal come into this match in the midst of a fairly poor start to 2026 by their lofty standards, with the Gunners having won just three of their eight Premier League matches so far this year.

Recent draws to Brentford and Wolves have certainly damaged their hunt for the title, but Arteta and co. are still in the driving seat this season even if their lead is a lot less comfortable than it was just a few weeks ago.

While their attacking struggles have been well documented, Arsenal remain the most formidable team in the league in defence, and have more than enough firepower to get past most teams, as shown in the 4-1 win in the reverse fixture in November.

In any case, whatever struggles Arsenal might be facing pale in comparison to those suffered by their local rivals, with Tottenham currently languishing closer to relegation than European football.

Spurs have not won a single one of their last five matches, with three losses and two draws over that time bringing Frank’s reign to an end. While Tudor arrives with the hope for brighter days ahead, the fact remains that Spurs have conceded 10 and scored six over their last five, and have conceded twice in their last six matches in the league.

Though the hosts will have home advantage this weekend, the depth of their injury crisis and the lack of preparation time afforded to Tudor means the odds are against them, and the Gunners should be able to pull off a fairly straightforward win despite their own struggles of late with a decent price available on football betting sites.

Tottenham vs Arsenal prediction 1: Arsenal to win to nil - 13/8 BoyleSports

Tottenham vs Arsenal tip: Saka to star in Arsenal win

Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka marked his new contract agreement with a goal as he featured in a new position for the Gunners, with the 24-year-old scoring within five minutes as he lined up in attacking midfield.

And while Saka was eventually subbed due to an unspecified issue as the visitors eventually fell to a draw at the Molineux, the England international should be fit to feature this weekend.

That is great news for Arsenal considering Saka’s record against Spurs, with the Gunners winger having registered two goals and four assists over his least five appearances in the north London derby.

While Ebere Eze stole the show at the Emirates in November, Saka provided the only assist in a 1-0 win in this fixture last season, and got goals and assists in both matches against Spurs the season before that.

Whether or not he is deployed in a central area once again remains to be seen, but wherever he plays he tends to carry the attacking burden for the Gunners, and considering the weaknesses in the Tottenham defence, Saka should be able to come away from this fixture with yet another goal contribution this weekend.

Tottenham vs Arsenal prediction 2: Bukayo Saka to score or assist - 23/20 Betway

Tottenham vs Arsenal team news

Tottenham vs Arsenal predicted line-ups

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Dragusin, van de Ven, Spence, Gallagher, Palhinha, Sarr, Richarlison, Solanke, Simons.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Tottenham vs Arsenal betting offer

New customers can secure the talkSPORT BET betting offer worth 40/1 odds for Tottenham or 30/1 odds for Arsenal to win the north London derby.

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If your team wins, you’ll receive a cash payout at the normal odds and the enhanced odds will be paid out in free bets. Free bets are available for seven days and available to use on any sport online.

Betting can be addictive, so please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. Betting should only ever be considered a form of entertainment – it will never be a surefire way to make money.

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TalkSPORT BET is running yet another special Premier League betting offer this weekend, with their latest promo focusing on the London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

New customers who place a pre-match £1 bet on Arsenal to win Sunday’s late kick-off will be paid out in cash and free bets at odds of 30/1 should their selection emerge victorious, while punters who place the same wager on Spurs to win will be paid out at 40/1 if the hosts oblige.

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What is the talkSPORT BET north London derby offer?

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How to claim the talkSPORT BET free bet offer

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Key terms and conditions

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TalkSPORT BET has quickly risen up the ranks of UK betting sites. Their brand is synonymous with football and sport in general due to their successful radio show, and their betting spin-off always offers valuable betting sign up offers and other promotions for wagering on the Premier League and more.

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There have already been a few quips about how Thomas Frank would have overly focused on Arsenal, a factor that had started to grate some of those around the club.

They – and Arsenal – are also conscious of how the atmosphere on Sunday is going to be different. The toxicity that surrounded Frank will be gone, at least temporarily. The derby will only amplify this better mood.

That suddenly creates a new danger for Arsenal. This could be an especially bad week.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a longer-term risk for Spurs from some of this, and that goes beyond the threat of relegation.

This is the first time that a north London derby has involved both the title and survival since 1934-35, when Arsenal were champions and Spurs went down. Arsenal won those fixtures 5-1 and 0-6.

This season feels very much up for grabs at both ends.

But if Frank occasionally overstated the exact quality of Arsenal, and recent results make even discussing feel mistimed, Spurs would be unwise to ignore the wider point.

The club hierarchy are currently trying to figure out a way out of this unprecedented mess, but there is a good roadmap across north London.

The very fact Arsenal are so disappointed right now is at once a sign of their progress. Better to be frustrated in a title race than nowhere near. They are competing.

Spurs chief executive Vinai Venkatesham should know about that journey better than anyone at the club, since he was on it.

The official was part of a wider team led by former executive vice-chairman Tim Lewis, former sporting director Edu, the ownership and – of course – Mikel Arteta, in making Arsenal a serious operation again.

The hierarchy first stripped everything back, removing all old pretensions and hang-ups to rebuild anew. Arteta decided on an identity and went there.

Another irony in the eternal intertwining of these two clubs is that this Arsenal have almost represented an upscaled version of what Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur were, right down to the style and an initial emphasis on youth.

Above all, though, Arsenal have had a clear sense of where they are going.

Spurs haven’t really been able to say that since Pochettino took them to the Champions League final in 2019, but arguably even earlier.

Since the club lost the Argentine’s singular focus, they have been a mess of different ideas. It says much that all of 2025, 2023, 2021 and 2019 were cast as restarts when they really just perpetuated the same cycle.

A significant cause was the one constant at Spurs: Daniel Levy. The former chairman is still widely respected in the game for how he gradually built the club, but there were increasing criticisms about how virtually everything at Tottenham was done according to his preferences. Even executives at Arsenal quipped about how it was Levy’s way rather than the Spurs way.

It arguably says more that, outside Pochettino’s time and brief bursts like Antonio Conte’s Champions League qualification or Ange Postecoglou’s Europa League triumph, the club has been most associated with a dismissive eponymous adjective: “Spursy”. They are now a club who receive most attention for things going wrong.

The ultimate example might be the Eberechi Eze negotiations, which was one of Levy’s last acts.

Except, the departure of someone as central as Levy has now naturally left a huge vacuum, and one that threatens to swallow up the whole club.

It is actually even worse than the obvious symptom of the lack of decisiveness over Frank, and how the complete absence of a plan saw them allow a dysfunctional situation to become one where relegation is a genuine risk.

Put bluntly, Spurs have no idea what they are, and multiple sources insist there are still not enough football people at the club to figure this out.

Those same sources point to how Tudor was previously a name raised by former director of football, Fabio Paratici.

This is a club badly in need of ideas, and especially one central idea.

As is often the case, it’s impossible not to feel some of this should be obvious, to the point it’s almost boring to repeat in a media article.

Spurs themselves even pronounce it before every home match. There are the inevitable references to Danny Blanchflower’s famous speech proclaiming that “the game is about glory… about doing things in style and with a flourish”.

This again feels incredible to say about one of the wealthiest clubs in football, but it should not have taken them this long to decide on a football ideology that evokes this; to appoint managers and sign players that fit into this.

Again, it should be obvious, but it hasn’t been properly tried at Spurs in years.

One fair argument right now is that the club do not currently have the football expertise to start going about such a project. Other Premier League figures are insistent that Spurs won’t be able to properly do anything like that until there is a change in ownership.

The rumours there refuse to go away. Many potential buyers are said to be interested. The Lewis family, however, are still described as “capricious” on this subject.

And of course it wouldn’t be modern Spurs without some other layer of complication.

Although it is usually at this point of one of their frequent coaching changes that they try to start thinking about the future and the biggest danger is a sense of drift, this time could see them get cut adrift.

They have to stave off relegation. Even the mere risk of this can affect preparation for next season, as Spurs may have to start considering two different plans.

The target will still be the same. They want to return to Pochettino after USA involvement in the World Cup ends.

The hierarchy feel the fanbase needs unifying after such a divisive period, and there is no better candidate. Pochettino’s football ideal, to be fair, also fits into that kind of Blanchflower proclamation.

But should this be based around one man? Is that not a superficial plan in itself? Is it even the same man as in 2019, let alone 2014, when Pochettino offered the fire that was necessary?

There is yet another little twist in how Arteta suddenly faces up to precisely the problem that Pochettino did, and potentially peaking at the wrong time, of not taking the project to fulfilment. Of maybe ending up with no title.

Spurs could have a significant say in that – but they know the club needs to be about so much more. Arsenal are still going for everything, while their great rivals still just need something.