LONDON — Igor Tudor praised Arsenal as the “best team in the world” following Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat in the north London derby, marking his debut as the new head coach. He acknowledged that the Premier League leaders served his squad a harsh reality check.
Arsenal’s victory was highlighted by two goals each from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres, while Randal Kolo Muani provided Spurs with a fleeting moment of hope by equalizing in the first half.
After experiencing a heavy loss in his first match since taking over from the sacked Thomas Frank earlier this month, Tudor reflected on the defeat, emphasizing that Spurs had faced the world’s top team.
“At this moment, Arsenal are probably the best team in the world,” Tudor stated to the media. “We approached this derby thinking we could elevate our mentality and motivation, but the reality is some things can’t change in just a few training sessions. It’s simply not feasible.”
“This wasn’t an ideal team to face in my first game, but it was important for me to assess our current level,” he continued. “The gap between the two teams is significant; Arsenal were too much for us. However, it’s essential to understand where we stand — this match highlighted our reality.”
Tudor noted the need for his team to alter their habits and mindset moving forward. “That’s the only way to progress,” he remarked.
With 11 league games ahead to secure their position and avoid relegation, Tudor acknowledged the low confidence among his players, who have yet to win a league match in 2026. “Their lack of confidence is evident when we don’t have the ball,” he expressed. “I feel sad and frustrated, but this situation helps us clarify our goals and the need for seriousness in our approach.”
“The remedy is self-reflection,” he added, “but I have seen the desire and passion in the players, which is why I’m not upset about their lack of execution, but rather their current inability to perform.”
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Spurs believed they had equalized again when Kolo Muani scored in the second half to make it 2-2, but the goal was disallowed due to a push on Arsenal defender Gabriel. Despite the disputed nature of the incident, Tudor refrained from criticizing the referee’s decision.
“Incidents involving contact in the penalty area are always subject to the referee’s judgment,” he commented. “They make decisions based on what they perceive.”