Tottenham Hotspur's struggles continue to mount as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in Wednesday's North London derby, marking their sixth loss in ten games. The result leaves them in 13th place, a concerning 14 points behind fourth-placed Newcastle and just eight points clear of the relegation zone.
The match briefly offered hope when Son Heung-min put Spurs ahead in the 25th minute, but that proved to be their only shot on target for the entire game. Arsenal responded with two goals in four minutes to secure the victory, leaving manager Ange Postecoglou visibly frustrated.
"We were nowhere near the levels we needed to be at today," Postecoglou admitted post-match. "The fact we went out in the first half in such a big game and were so passive, it was unacceptable. And we paid a price for it."
Premier League legend Alan Shearer voiced his concerns on Match of the Day, stating, "Without doubt the Tottenham fans have to be concerned. I know they have injuries but you can't go up against your rivals and your manager come out at the end of the game and say that the team were nowhere near their levels."
The situation appears particularly precarious for Postecoglou, who earlier in the season boldly claimed he "always wins a trophy" in his second season. While Tottenham remains in contention for silverware through the Europa League and holds a 1-0 first-leg advantage over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, their league form has been worrying.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, speaking on TNT Sports, suggested Postecoglou is "skating on thin ice," criticizing the team's high-pressing tactical approach. This sentiment was echoed by Aaron Lennon, who pointed out that "one win in nine is not good enough at all."
The team's struggles are compounded by an extensive injury list, with nine players currently sidelined, including key defensive personnel such as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Ben Davies.
Rio Ferdinand offered tactical criticism, comparing Tottenham's defending to "watching an academy under-18s game." He urged Postecoglou to show more tactical flexibility, especially given the injury situation: "Maybe he has to be more adaptable with his tactics. I understand and respect Ange's principles but, with the injuries, surely you have to adapt them."
As Tottenham prepares for their upcoming match against Everton on Sunday, Postecoglou remains defiant: "No other way of looking at it. If you give up now, there's no point. Right now we have a big game against Everton this weekend. That's our focus."
