Arsenal 4-1 Spurs: Frank Left With Four Unreliable Players Ahead of PSG Clash After Heavy Loss
Thomas Frank was left stunned on Sunday evening as his Tottenham side were completely outclassed by fierce rivals Arsenal. Spurs were humbled 4-1, with Richarlison’s brilliant long-range strike serving only as a consolation.
A number of senior players gave Frank serious reasons to doubt their reliability in big matches. Tottenham were already hanging on before Mikel Merino split their defence with a perfect pass to Leandro Trossard for the opener. Eberechi Eze then struck twice around half-time before sealing his hat-trick late on. Richarlison briefly unsettled Arsenal, but Mikel Arteta’s team were deserved winners.
The defeat drops Spurs to eighth place, while Arsenal move six points clear of Chelsea at the top. Watching their rivals edge closer to a first Premier League title in over 20 years was painful enough for Spurs fans — but the performances of four underperforming players made it even worse. Frank now faces some tough decisions before the midweek PSG clash.
Joao Palhinha
Palhinha initially looked like a smart signing, especially after his impressive Premier League spell with Fulham. But his return to England has rapidly gone downhill. He still reads danger well, yet his limitations on the ball are becoming obvious — the same issue that held him back at Bayern Munich.
Supporters were unimpressed, with one saying:
“We should’ve known what we were getting when Frank chose Palhinha instead of a proper passer. That sums up everything wrong with his approach.”
Another added:
“Palhinha is terrible. Bentancur is even worse. Both need to go.”
A third fan concluded:
“I’ve defended Palhinha for long enough; he’s simply not good enough. Couldn’t care less about his tackles — he was useless today.”
Rodrigo Bentancur
Bentancur didn’t escape criticism either. He and Palhinha were overrun by Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Eze — a common theme for visiting midfields at the Emirates, but the ease with which they folded was alarming.
One frustrated fan said:
“Playing Palhinha and Bentancur together more than three times should be a sackable offence.”
Destiny Udogie
Udogie has struggled for consistent minutes under Frank, partly due to off-field issues and partly because he appears ill-suited to the manager’s system. Once known for his explosive overlapping runs, he now looks a shadow of his former self.
He struggled badly against Bukayo Saka and was careless in possession, losing the ball 13 times and increasing pressure on his own side. Whether this was just a bad performance or evidence he cannot thrive under Frank remains unclear — but the signs aren’t good.
Kevin Danso
Many were surprised to see Danso included alongside Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. The idea was that he would bolster the defence and contribute with his long throws — but the plan backfired.
Danso switched off for the opener, allowing Trossard to ghost away into space. He was substituted at half-time, a clear admission from Frank that the selection was a mistake. Although Danso won all three of his duels, Arsenal pressed him relentlessly due to his limited ability on the ball.