Igor Tudor believes he watched one of the best team on this planet on Sunday as his Tottenham side were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal.
The brand new Spurs manager was chucked in on the deep end for his first game in charge, a north London derby against the Premier League leaders.
Arsenal were dominant but Tottenham were game and really much within the match at half-time with the rating level at 1-1.
Nonetheless, the Gunners powered to victory within the second half, with a brace from Viktor Gyokeres and Eberchi Eze scoring his second of the sport.
The defeat leaves Spurs sixteenth within the table and unquestionably in a relegation battle, but Tudor stays confident they are going to survive within the Premier League.
‘After all I’m confident because I imagine these are good players with bad habits. It’s all about that,’ the Croatian told Sky Sports.
‘They’re good. No one can tell me they shouldn’t have quality. But we want to vary our mental sharpness. To be in the sport from the primary minute, and to have the physicality to do that.’
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Asked how long it should take him to vary his team’s bad habits, Tudor was undecided, but he is bound his side won’t face sides of the standard of Arsenal every week.
‘I don’t know. We’ll see day-to-day, working and improving,’ he said. ‘Also the opponent will not be be the identical, this might be one of the best team on this planet. We’ll see next Sunday.’
Tudor repeated the claim in his post-match press conference, saying: ‘This team Arsenal are probably one of the best team now on this planet on this moment, it was difficult.’
Tudor was not critical of his own players, praising their effort and work rate, but said they were competing with a team in a ‘different world’ to his own.
‘The drugs is you look within the mirror, each of us look within the mirror and really start to vary the habits. Working hard is the one way,’ he said.
‘I saw the fervour, I saw the desire. I used to be not offended because they desired to do but they weren’t capable of do on this moment. They desired to do all that we prepared, that’s good, but we want to know at which moment we’re in now.
‘Tuesday, are available in, everyone there, stay quiet, stay humble, that’s the important thing. Try to change into a hard-working squad and team, that’s the one goal we have now on this moment.’
Arsenal back in control of the title race
An enormous win for Arsenal puts them five points clear at the highest of the Premier League table they usually remain favourites to win the title, despite recent wobbles.
Spurs usually are not the hardest team within the league to play against, however the Gunners were threatening and potent again after looking blunt of late.
They need to have been well ahead on the break and it was only an odd Declan Rice error which meant the sport was level. Mikel Arteta’s men remained calm and kept coming, getting their rewards.
The pressure has been constructing, but Arsenal have eased it with the result and performance, each of which were excellent.
The link-up between Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka was really impressive at Spurs and if Arteta can get those two firing frequently then few defences will find a way to handle them.
It’s curious that Eze has scored five of his six Premier League goals this season against Spurs and has probably not sparkled much outside of the derbies, but clearly he has loads more to supply on this title race.
There are twists and turns to return before anyone lifts the Premier League trophy, however the gloom hanging over Arsenal since Wolves has been lifted.
It’ll be one other high intensity affair next trip as Arsenal host Chelsea.
Tottenham are only 4 points above the relegation zone with 11 games to play within the Premier League and the manager says he has time to steer them away from danger.
‘After all it’s enough time,’ he said. ‘This was not an ideal team to play after three or 4 [training sessions] but in a technique we have now to see it as something good, see where we must be, what’s the goal.
‘Today, I must be honest, two totally different worlds. Levels.’
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