Tottenham Hotspur

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Spurs fans

Alan: Put in whatever manager you like, the problem is the mediocre players purchased who are not Premier League quality. We seem to buy anyone to plug the gap but it will never work - we need class players like we've had in the past, but we won't attract them in the Championship.

Dan: What I expected really, much of the same from the past two seasons. Moments of hope and positive flashes, but mainly negative football and silly decisions. I doubt even Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp could make this current group of players perform well. If you had a team of workers in an office job who turned up each week and spent their day just mooching about the office, occasionally tapping some keys of the computer but producing nothing, they'd be sacked for failing to do what they're employed to do. Spurs are literally doing the equivalent of this on the pitch.

Tristen: Playing three at the back is suicidal. Playing too many players out of their natural positions is also comical. This game was a free hit as fans weren't expecting a win, but a proper system and structure is the minimum we should have got out this game. On this system and style, we are favourites for relegation.

Fran: Shocking display from Spurs... Archie Gray too weak, Djed Spence keeps losing the ball. No real fight. Can't see a way out of it.

Arsenal fans

Giso: Arsenal's mentality will make them win the title because they played against Spurs like nothing went wrong in the previous game.

Vince: A great result but let's not get carried away. This was a Spurs team missing key players through injury and unsurprisingly clunky in possession. Arsenal, meanwhile, were allowed to play their usual game - which they weren't allowed to at Brentford and Wolves and see what happened there. Still, it's a brilliant confidence booster for Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres and renews that all-important belief that this might be the season Arsenal cross the finish line first.

Helen: What's the earliest St Totteringham's day could be this year?

Tim: Another one-sided north London derby. The 4-1 scoreline really flattered Spurs. A very dominant performance and important to bounce back with three big points. Hard to name individuals in such a strong team performance, but Declan Rice, Eze and Gyokeres were immense, and that is not to mention the defence and David Raya. Onwards...

Match of the Day pundits Shay Given and Danny Murphy believe Tottenham "have a reason to be disappointed" with Randal Kolo Muani's second goal being ruled out against Arsenal on Sunday.

The goal was not given on-field by referee Peter Banks for a foul on Arsenal defender Gabriel.

Watch Sunday's full MOTD episode on BBC iPlayer

Pundits Danny Murphy and Shay Given join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Sunderland 1-3 Fulham

• Crystal Palace 1-0 Wolves

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool

• Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Igor Tudor's plain speaking made it clear he was under no illusions about the job in front of him after succeeding sacked Thomas Frank to take charge of Spurs until the end of the season.

And if any illusions remained, they were banished by the ease with which Spurs were swept aside by Arsenal.

Randal Kolo Muani's bustling equaliser offered some hope, but once his side fell behind early in the second half, the game was effectively over as a contest.

The home side never lacked endeavour, but this depleted squad was no match for Arsenal, the gulf in class between the teams brutally exposed.

Tudor returns to the training ground with a genuine relegation fight on his hands as Spurs now lie 16th, four points above the bottom three.

This was a painful introduction for the Croatian and, on this evidence, there may be more pain to come before matters improve, as they will have to do.

Tottenham interim manager Igor Tudor, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Difficult start against a team who is now in this moment.

"A different level of physical state of mind, so congratulations to them. They were much better and they deserve this win. I got the spirit which we wanted to do things, but it was not enough. It is nice to understand where we are in this moment.

"It showed me on Tuesday that we need to work hard and work hard and seriously.

"Now in this moment, the team is full of problems. The only key is to work on the training day by day and be humble. We need to be more aggressive - we need to be more compact. These are the keys.

"You understand the gap with the mental sharpness of one team and other teams. This is a thing we need to change. I saw players available to do this, but we need more time to do this.

"Thinking about relegation doesn't bring you anything to anybody."

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, speaking to Sky Sports: "Arsenal were the better team. We were still in the game at 1-1 but after the second half, they scored straight away and then it was really difficult.

"We could do the press a bit better. We pressed high but Arsenal came out of it. It's something we need to work on. They were the better team today.

"It's a risk when you go man for man and if one man is late then you're going to be open but when you win the ball high, there are so many options for us. But on the opposite, when they come out, it's a big risk."

On Igor Tudor: "He is on us all week. Every day we worked on it. It's his first week and he wants to help us in every way. We have all the week to prepare for Fulham.

"We need to win the games. Step by step. We play Fulham now."

Did you know?

• Igor Tudor is the first Tottenham Hotspur manager to lose their first Premier League game in charge since Andre Villas-Boas in August 2012, with each of the previous nine going unbeaten.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Igor Tudor names Randal Kolo Muani as his striker in his first Spurs team with Palhinha in midfield. Richarlison and Dominic Solanke are on the bench.

Tottenham starting XI: Vicario, Gray, Dragusin, Van de Den, Spence, Bissouma, Palhinha, Sarr, Gallagher, Simons, Muani

Subs: Austin, Richarlison, Tel, Solanke, Souza, Oluesi, Williams-Barnett, Rowswell, Wilson

Mikel Arteta has made just two changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Wolves in midweek. Leandro Trossard comes in with Eberechi Eze starting as Arsenal's number 10.

Eze scored a hat-trick when these two played earlier in the season and the Gunners will be hoping that Eze can repeat that performance today.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Jesus, Odegaard, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Crystal Palace v Wolves - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Nottingham Forest v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sunderland v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Tottenham v Arsenal (16:30 GMT) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction from the 14:00 games here

And go here for Tottenham v Arsenal

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Sunderland v Fulham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Spurs v Arsenal", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

From what I've read about new Tottenham manager Igor Tudor, he is a guy who goes in at clubs and, in the short term, gets a turn out of his team.

Spurs really need that to happen now, because they desperately need a win or two to get out of reach of relegation.

So, this game is big for them for that reason, and also because they can put another dent in Arsenal's title hopes too.

Spurs and their fans have not had a lot to shout about this season, but if they can get something here then this could be a defining moment in their campaign, and affect Arsenal as well. They would love that.

It was an incredible wobble by Mikel Arteta's team against Wolves, drawing 2-2 after being 2-0 up, and I certainly didn't see it coming.

Maybe it is getting to be 'squeaky bum time' for them, but it didn't affect them when they went away to Leeds a couple of weeks ago and won convincingly.

You can imagine how Spurs will be champing at the bit, and I am expecting them to make a fast start and have a real go at them - but Arsenal have to deal with that, and find a way of bouncing back.

I think the Gunners can do that, and their quality will make the difference in the end. I worry about Spurs in forward areas and it will be interesting to see how Tudor lines them up in defence too.

Ultimately, if Arsenal turn up and play how we know they can, then they will win - and I am expecting them to make a real statement.

Sutton's prediction: 0-3

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Scarlet Katz Roberts
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The north London derby is now a referendum on both sides.

If Arsenal lose, the 'bottlejob' narrative will be undeniable. If Spurs lose, they will be dragged into the relegation conversation.

Despite our best efforts, we've joined them in the 'next game is a cup final' trenches.

It feels a bit like Manchester City's visit to Anfield a few short weeks ago. In Spurs' case, victory could be the perfect tonic after a season of catastrophic mediocrity. I'm sure they will be licking their lips at the opportunity to derail our title charge by winning for once!

I'm not across their latest injury crisis, but I still think Tottenham have the quality to cause problems. Xavi Simons looks a busy technician, and Dominic Solanke is at least 'a proper striker' - whatever that is. Micky van de Ven is an able centre-back and Spurs will be without Cristian Romero, which might help them, as he is a walking red card in the form of an Argentine pseudo-hardman.

While it's been endlessly funny watching Tottenham get things wrong, good times don't last forever. Thomas Frank isn't a bad guy, but he couldn't help falling prey to the usual 'Spursiness'.

With the atmosphere at White Hart Lane threatening to tip into apathy, what would 3,000 away fans singing "Arsenal boys, we're on a bender, Thomas Frank is a silver member" have done?

It was a pitiful showing at the Emirates in November. Add to that the fact Frank wouldn't stop talking about how good Arsenal were and you'd have the perfect storm.

All of which is to say, for Spurs, anything is better than that.

I don't know much about Igor Tudor apart from the fact he was sacked by Juventus. He'll have plenty of time to cook up a plan, though, with Spurs having 12 days off before the game.

The rest of the league will be watching, poised to laugh at whoever comes off worse.

It will probably be a draw.

Find more from Scarlet Katz Roberts at the Goal Difference podcast, external

Scroll down this page for the fan view from the Spurs side of the divide, published on Friday morning.

Bardi
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

With the north London derby looming, Tottenham fans are reaching for the cliches. "Form goes out of the window", a "new manager bounce", or "anything can happen".

Never before has the gulf in a north London derby appeared so wide, but even with the abyss looming, hope does start to gnaw away at you. The thought... "could we?" is already starting to form in the back of my mind.

I'm very familiar with the gulf between Arsenal and Tottenham. Most of my childhood was spent in its presence. Every Monday morning returning to school in north London, I'd have to endure the taunts from that cocky lot.

But things did change. For most of my adulthood, it has been a pothole and occasionally non-existent. But then, thanks to one man, Vinai Venkatesham, we're back in the mid-90s, where our chances rest on nothing more than a 'fool's hope'.

Our CEO loves to pat himself on the back for his 'job well done' down the road, while fully ignoring the bonfire at N17. Vinai has brought back the dark days with some aplomb.

We're five points away from relegation and so frightened of what might happen that we've parachuted in a relegation-saving expert.

This is not a north London derby I'm looking forward to - but still, it is littered with possibility.

Both clubs approach this game with an opportunity to make a statement.

For Arsenal, it's a chance to show they have the fortitude to finally win a two-way title race, especially after the setback at Wolves. For Spurs, it's about changing course.

Igor Tudor's first game against 'them lot' offers him the opportunity to build some optimism and put some distance between us and the Championship.

In my lifetime, I've seen some wonderful north London derby fixtures and some absolute disasters.

Right now, I'm not sure what road this one is on, because we all know "form goes out of the window" - or so my side of the divide hopes.

Find more from Bardi at The Extra Inch - a Spurs podcast, external

Come back on Saturday for the fan view from the Arsenal side of the rivalry.

Tottenham boss Igor Tudor has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League North London derby against Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Tudor said that "probably" none of the current absentees will be back for the North London derby while Dominic Solanke trained today and yesterday after "some problem with his throat".

• On how training has been given the long injury list: "In this particular moment with 10 injuries, we trained with 13 players. It is what is is. It's not fantastic or beautiful but 13 we will have and it is quite enough to achieve what we want on Sunday."

• Has he enjoyed his first week at Spurs?: "I didn't enjoy because I'm not here to enjoy. I'm here to work. It's the first moment and there's work to do. It's a privilege to be at this club. Enjoy is the first moment, and then there's work to do. It's a fantastic club. I am very focused to do the right things."

• What he has said to the squad: "The players want to have clarity about what we want. This was the goal. To send a message about values and how we want to play."

• Tudor said Tottenham will "100%" be a Premier League club next season.

• More on Spurs' current league position: "This is not important. Fighting for every position, relegation, first position, Uefa places, you achieve the position because of what you do during the week and on Sunday. It is a consequence of this. It brings you nothing if you think about relegation. All these goals are far away. I never give them importance. I never speak about results and what we want to achieve at the end of the season. I don't believe in this. I believe in today's training. This is all I want the players to think about. The position is a consequence of this."

• How has he had an instant impact at the clubs he has worked at?: "I don't know. I do my job. Nothing special. I do things that I believe are important. You need to resolve the problems - there are problems even in the biggest clubs."

Listen to live commentary of the North London Derby on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Spurs? Get in touch here and we'll put it to our experts

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham have confirmed the arrival of three new coaches to the first-team backroom staff following the appointment of Igor Tudor as head coach until the end of the season.

Former Brighton defender Bruno Saltor has been appointed Tudor's assistant coach following spells as part of the backroom staff at Chelsea - where he managed the team for a match following the sacking of Graham Potter - and again under Potter at West Ham.

Goalkeeping coach Tomislav Rogic and physical coach Riccardo Ragnacci have also been appointed, having worked under Tudor in his most recent job at Juventus.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Spurs midfielder Dele will be a special guest at the north London derby against Arsenal on Sunday.

Fans will have the chance to show their appreciation for the England international at half time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he'll speak with Paul Coyte.

Dele left his hometown club Milton Keynes Dons to join Spurs in 2015, and he scored 69 goals over 269 appearances in seven years in north London.

In 2017, Dele scored the opener as Spurs claimed a 2-0 Premier League win over Arsenal in the final north London derby at White Hart Lane.

He also doubled Tottenham's lead the following year when Spurs knocked Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup, proceeding to the semi-final with a 2-0 win at the Emirates.

Since leaving north London in 2022, fitness and form struggles prevented Dele from establishing himself at Everton or Besiktas.

Dele is a free agent, having been released by Serie A side Como after one appearance last year.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham forward Mason Melia is targeting a return to training next week.

The 18‑year‑old joined Spurs in January for an Irish‑record fee of £1.6m, rising to £3.2m in potential add‑ons, from St Patrick's Athletic.

However, the Republic of Ireland Under‑21 striker arrived with a minor back issue that Tottenham's medical staff wanted to address before involving him in competitive action.

The decision to send out fellow striker Dane Scarlett on loan to Scottish Premiership side Hibernian for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign was made with Melia's arrival in mind.

Melia is expected to begin with Spurs Under‑21s but with chances to potentially train and play for the first‑team if he impresses and proves his fitness.

Spurs saw off competition from Everton, Chelsea, Manchester City, Celtic, Genk, Bologna and Eintracht Frankfurt to sign Melia in February last year.

The last time Arsenal won five Premier League games in a row against Tottenham was between January 1987 and January 1989. The recent history does not make promising reading for Spurs fans before the north London derby, but what else do the stats say...

• Spurs have lost their past three league home games against Arsenal, as many as they had in their previous 23 (W10 D10). They last lost four in a row against them between 1952 and 1955.

• Since their last league defeat against Spurs in May 2022, the Gunners have lost just one of their 21 away London derby matches in the Premier League (W14 D6), going down 2-1 at Fulham in December 2023.

• This will be Igor Tudor's first match as Spurs boss. The only manager whose first ever game in charge of Tottenham was in a match against Arsenal is Glenn Hoddle, who lost 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford in April 2001.

• Tudor, however, has won his first match in charge in each of his past five spells at a club, starting with his second spell at Hajduk Split in February 2020 (and with Verona, Marseille, Lazio and Juventus since).

• Gunners midfielder Eberechi Eze has scored six goals in his past four Premier League appearances against Spurs (including three in two at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium), netting a hat-trick in his first appearance against them for Arsenal in November's reverse fixture.