Jermain Defoe has confidently backed Tottenham to get well from their 4-1 defeat to Arsenal and avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.
Spurs had appeared to have clawed themselves back into Sunday’s north London derby as Randal Kolo Muani equalised just two minutes after Eberechi Eze had opened the scoring on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However the hosts were well beaten within the second half, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring twice – either side of Eze’s second on the hour-mark – to tighten Arsenal’s grip on top spot.
The result meant the Gunners finished the weekend five points clear of nearest rivals on the summit. Mikel Arteta’s men will look to choose up where they left off once they return to motion at home to Chelsea in per week’s time.
It’s back to the drafting board for Igor Tudor, though, with Tottenham hovering just 4 points above the dreaded drop zone after a winless begin to 2026 within the English top flight.
The Croatian will look to choose up his first points as Spurs’ interim manager when his side travel to Craven Cottage to face off against Fulham next Sunday.
‘There’s a giant gap on this specific moment between the 2 teams,’ Tudor told reporters following Spurs’ heavy loss.
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‘It was an excessive amount of, Arsenal, for us, on this moment and with the issues we have now.
‘Also, it’s nice to grasp where we’re since you prepare in the very best possible way then there may be the sport to indicate you the truth. It’s nice from one standpoint so each of us understand and are available.
‘As I said the players, stay quiet. They arrive [back to training] on Tuesday and restart after these three or 4 training sessions to start out to work harder than we did until now.
‘To vary our habits, to alter the frame of mind which is now as a team… it’s the only technique to work.’
Arsenal back answerable for 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 should 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 regularly then few defences will give you the chance 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 day out as Arsenal host Chelsea.
Asked if the job could also be tougher than he had initially expected, Tudor replied: ‘You never know. You never know because it is a situation that I never saw.
‘We’ve ten players plus three players [available]. So it’s very, I don’t know which word is best to make use of, but I like because I see the players need to do.
‘Okay, they’re on this position but now we’d like to restart again and wait for the players who’re out.
‘Obviously, that’s also a giant reason. Nevertheless it is the way it is.’
Less a 12 months on from their historic Europa League triumph, Spurs fans could also be forced to resign themselves to the undeniable fact that they might feasibly drop down into the Championship should results fail to enhance.
Based on former Spurs striker Defoe, the responsibility is now on the players to attempt to turn the situation around with just 11 games remaining of their campaign.
‘In fact [they are in a relegation fight]. The games are running out and that’s the truth,’ Defoe said on Viaplay shortly after the ultimate whistle.
‘I consider the players were up for the sport today, such as you could be.
‘I said before, it’s not a game that you simply need motivating for and the atmosphere, you’re probably not going to all the time get that in the opposite games. You get that within the north London derby.
‘So the players, going forward, are going to need to attempt to create that. And what I mean by that’s have some quality with the ball.
‘While you get the ball back and also you turn it over after which rapidly you’re under pressure… in that first half, Arsenal just pinned them back, they suffocated them.
‘Though they’d good condition, they were suffocated. At some stage, you’ve got to indicate some quality with the ball, create possibilities and do a bit bit more.’
Asked whether relegation could now be a sensible possibility for Spurs, Defoe replied: ‘No, I don’t think they’ll go down.
‘They play against Fulham and Crystal Palace, they’re able to winning those two games.
‘Hopefully they’ll get the injured players back. I’ve said before concerning the injuries… the list is unbelievable and it was the identical last season.
‘So many key players are missing but there’s some long-term ones as well.
‘That’s the concern but I don’t they they’ll go down.’
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