Arteta Reacts as Tottenham Sack Thomas Frank Amid Relegation Fears
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has shown support for Thomas Frank following his dismissal by north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. Spurs are currently only five points above the Premier League relegation places after failing to secure a single domestic victory in 2026, even though they managed to finish fourth during the Champions League league phase.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shares sympathy for Thomas Frank after Tottenham sack him following poor results, with Spurs sitting just five points above the Premier League relegation zone.
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Frank’s departure comes after what has been described statistically as the worst managerial record ever recorded by a Premier League big-six club. Tottenham now face genuine danger of being pulled into a relegation battle after going eight league fixtures without registering a win. The club officially confirmed Frank’s dismissal on Wednesday.
In an official statement, Tottenham said they had decided to change the Men's Head Coach position and confirmed that Thomas Frank would leave immediately. The club noted that Frank had been appointed in June 2025 and had initially been given time and backing to help build a long-term future. However, the board decided that results and overall performances meant a managerial change was required at this stage of the season.
The statement also praised Frank’s dedication, saying he showed total commitment and worked hard to move the club forward. Spurs thanked him for his efforts and wished him success moving forward.
Speaking later on Wednesday during a press conference, Arteta responded to the news of Tottenham parting ways with their manager. He described the situation as sad whenever a fellow coach loses his role, praising Frank as both an excellent coach and a remarkable person who has already proven himself in the league. Arteta added that results often determine outcomes in football management and wished Frank the best in his next steps.
Arteta was also asked whether the Premier League is becoming less patient with managers and was reminded that Tottenham have gone through eight different managers during his time in charge of Arsenal. He responded that each situation is unique depending on the club, although managerial changes are always a possibility.
He added that every period is different for each club and pointed to long-serving legendary managers like Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson as examples of stability that is less common today. Arteta explained that many factors influence job security, especially having players fully support and believe in the manager’s approach, as well as consistently winning matches. He stressed that failure to win games usually results in losing the job.
Reports from the Daily Telegraph suggested Frank had frustrated parts of the Tottenham dressing room by frequently praising Arsenal. One source claimed he regularly spoke to players about Arsenal, which eventually annoyed them. The source said that even around matches at the Emirates Stadium, Frank highlighted how strong Arsenal were, leaving some players frustrated and wanting him to stop discussing their rivals.
Frank also upset some supporters by referencing Arsenal’s famous “Invincibles” squad during his first press conference while stating Tottenham would inevitably lose matches. Additionally, he was seen drinking from an Arsenal-branded cup before Spurs lost to Bournemouth in January.
Tottenham are now aiming to appoint either a temporary or permanent replacement head coach before next Sunday’s north London derby at home against Arsenal. Spurs have not defeated Arsenal since May 2022.
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