Tottenham Vs Arsenal leaves Spurs facing relegation danger after 4-1 derby thrashing
In the north London clash, tottenham vs arsenal finished 4-1 on Sunday as Arsenal ran away with the game, a result that leaves Tottenham 16th and just four points above the Premier League relegation zone with 11 games to go.
Tottenham Vs Arsenal: Arsenal dominated down the right
Arsenal’s superior quality showed in a 4-1 win, and much of their early attacking edge came down the right-hand side where Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber were dominant in the first half. Timber often had time on the ball to pick passes and, in one sequence, found Viktor Gyokeres for Arsenal’s second goal; later, home fans poured out after Viktor Gyökeres had made it 4-1. Arsenal produced moments of quality and skill when it mattered and, over long periods, outplayed Tottenham, creating 20 chances to Spurs’ six.
Tactical cracks in Tudor’s 3-5-2
Under new boss Igor Tudor, Spurs set up in a 3-5-2 but did not simply sit in, which left space for Arsenal to exploit in forward areas. Tottenham’s system saw Xavi Simons, nominally a second striker, having to run back to left-back on occasion, with Pape Matar Sarr coming over from midfield and Micky van de Ven covering from centre-half. That reactive pattern left Sarr one-on-one with Saka in the left-back position, and Sarr could not stop the cross that led to Arsenal’s first goal.
Scoreline and the chances that told the story
The 4-1 scoreline reflected Arsenal’s control: they could easily have won by more after creating 20 chances to Spurs’ six. Arsenal were level at half-time, but that came amid a worrying pattern—this was the third league game in a row, and the fourth in the past six, in which Arsenal conceded within 10 minutes of scoring. Declan Rice went in the space of two minutes from pointing at his temples to encourage teammates after taking the lead, to waving his hands in apology after giving the ball away as Spurs equalised; Rice’s swings of emotion were a striking subplot in a match Arsenal ultimately controlled.
Injuries, form and a narrow escape from the drop
The defeat deepens Spurs’ trouble. Tottenham sit 16th, just four points above a West Ham side who edged closer over the weekend, and they have not won any of their last nine top-flight games with 11 games to go. Across the past dozen matches Tottenham have the worst form in the division, taking just seven points with only a win at Crystal Palace and a comeback draw against Man City among the highlights. Nottingham Forest and West Ham each recorded 12 points across the same period, cutting Spurs’ margin by five points.
Injuries compound the crisis: Tottenham are missing more players than any other Premier League side, with 11 players unavailable. Captain Cristian Romero was suspended for the derby; long-term absences include Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, and Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert are now missing as well. The squad is seriously stretched and must juggle a Champions League knockout bid alongside a relegation battle.
Messaging, morale and a club that feels familiar
Pre-match on-pitch rabble-rousing from Paul Coyte urged a transformation from "a small flame" into "a roaring fire, " but after the game many saw conflicting messages about Spurs’ direction. For Tudor, the only real positive this weekend was that none of West Ham, Nottingham Forest or Leeds won either. Critics have long pointed to Tottenham’s recurring problems: a run of six seasons in which Spurs finished above Arsenal ended in 2022, and commentators noted the club’s quirks and foibles remain a major issue as the team struggled to stop waves of Arsenal attacks and displayed moments of profound carelessness.
Managers and observers have flagged those habits; Tudor himself said after the loss, "There were too many bad habits in the past, " a line that echoes criticism previously levelled by Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank. Last season Postecoglou managed an injury-hit group by focusing on Europe and allowing league form to slide; Tudor has no such luxury this time.
Match notes and what comes next
Other match notes from the weekend included that Arsenal passed a derby test of nerve, Mikel Arteta commented on derby technology delays, and that Eze "wanted to prove something" as he tormented Spurs again. With 11 games left, Tottenham face a run of fixtures that include a trip to Chelsea followed by a home game with Everton that are being framed as must-win matches if Spurs are to arrest the slide. The club must also balance an ongoing Champions League knockout bid with an increasingly urgent fight to preserve their top-flight status.
In short, the tottenham vs arsenal result exposed tactical frailties, injury problems and a run of poor form that now leaves Spurs not only beaten in the derby but staring at a real relegation threat with a packed calendar ahead.
