A Dozen Definitive Days
Spurs appointed a new interim manager with twelve Premier League
matches remaining. They are still among the group of teams which could
be relegated at the end of the season. So there are a dozen definitive
days in the Premier League before the end of the season
This is the first of a series of comments after each of these matches.
They are not match reports but will refer to the match played. The
purpose is to analyse the post-match situation; the implications of
the result and Spurs prospects for the remainder of the season.
Definitive Days Number 1
Sunday 22 February 2026
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 4
This was Igor Tudor's first match as interim manager of Spurs.
Unfortunately there was no new-manager boost. Spurs were
comprehensively beaten by Arsenal. The latter dominated proceedings
for most of the game. Apart from a brief period in the first half
after Arsenal scored and Spurs responded quickly as Kolo Muani scored
a fine individual goal it was mainly one-way traffic.
Arsenal had 46 touches in the Spurs box compared to a mere seven for
Spurs in the Arsenal box. Tudor's teams have a reputation for covering
lots of ground but on this occasion Arsenal as a team covered an
additional 4.5 km over their Spurs counterparts which is a significant
difference.
Spurs have the worst current injury list in the division with ten
players Pedro Porro, Danso, Davies Udogie, Bentancur, Bergvall,
Maddison, Kulusevski, Kudus and Odobert all out while Romero remains
suspended. There are no short-term solutions for most of the injured
players.
Tudor chose a (3-5-2) formation today with Palhinha as the third
defender. Kolo Muani started up front with Solanke on the bench. It
wasn't entirely unexpected since Kolo Muani has played for Tudor
before and Solanke had a throat issue during the week. Richarlison was
a surprise addition to the bench which also featured James Wilson the
young player on loan from Hearts for the first time. Austin was the
substitute goalkeeper today. It is not clear whether Kinsky is injured
or if Austin is Tudor's preferred back-up.
Spurs lost three consecutive league games for the first time this
season and the same sort of errors which contributed to Spurs downfall
in previous games were again in evidence. There was little or no
noticeable improvement.
For only the second time ever Spurs conceded eight goals against
Arsenal during the two league games in a season. The only time they
have conceded more was in the 1934-35 season when they conceded eleven
and were relegated.
Spurs lost a fourth consecutive home league game to Arsenal which
hasn't happened since 1954-55.
Eberechi Eze scored two goals today and has scored seven goals in his
last three matches against Spurs featuring three different Spurs
managers. He hadn't scored in the 15 Premier League games he played in
between the hat-trick in November and today. How he must love playing
against Spurs.
An argument could be made that Tudor was unlucky to face the league
leaders Arsenal in his opening game. This is somewhat undermined when
it is taken into account that Arsenal drew their last two matches
which were both away games against Brentford and the bottom of the
table team Wolves. Arsenal scored more goals today than they did in
the last two games. Surely Spurs shouldn't perform worse at home to
Arsenal than Wolves.
Spurs had the worst result of the teams at the lower end of the table
this weekend.
If a league table is compiled of matches played during 2026 most teams
have played nine games. Spurs are at the bottom of the table with just
four points and the only team not to win a match in 2026. Burnley are
second from the bottom with seven points and Sunderland third eight
points. Nottingham Forest have taken nine points and West Ham United
twelve in the same time that Spurs have gained four points. There is
no doubt that Spurs are involved in the battle go down.
Spurs remaining five home games are against Crystal Palace, Nottingham
Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United and Everton and should
provide the opportunities to obtain enough points to avoid relegation.
However it also has to be noted that since the opening home league
game in August thirteen home matches have resulted in winning one,
drawing four and losing eight. Based on that and the fact that their
current form in the division is currently the worst there are no
certainties.
Tudor has to transform things as quickly as possible. Today's crushing
defeat won't help. Next week's game features Fulham a team who won 3-0
away from home today against a team who lost by three goals to their
nearest neighbours today. There is no question as to which team will
approach the game with more confidence.
In his pre-match press conference Tudor said he was 100% confident
that Spurs would avoid relegation. After today's sub-standard
performance he needs a major improvement to transform his prediction
into reality. The transformation has to happen quickly or it will be
too late.
Arsenal's manager Arteta called this match a turning point. A turning
point is just what Spurs need but sadly this match wasn't it.
. Spurs Odyssey match report
Top of page | Spurs Odyssey Home Page
