Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles continued on Wednesday as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals, Arsenal.
The loss leaves Spurs 13th in the Premier League table with 24 points, a whopping 14 points behind fourth-placed Newcastle.
To make matters worse, Tottenham is now closer to the relegation zone than the top four, with only eight points separating them from 18th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The defeat was Tottenham’s sixth in their last 10 games, and their form has been a major concern for fans and pundits alike.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was scathing in his assessment of the team’s performance, saying they were “nowhere near the levels” required.
Postecoglou’s frustration was palpable as he lamented his team’s passive display in the first half.
The Australian tactician acknowledged that his team had paid the price for their lackluster performance.
Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer echoed Postecoglou’s sentiments, saying that Tottenham’s form was a major worry for fans.
Shearer emphasized that the team’s inability to perform against their rivals was unacceptable.
Tottenham’s Slide Continues
Tottenham has lost 11 games in the Premier League this season, their joint-most at this stage of a single campaign.
The team’s defensive frailties have been exposed time and again, with only the three teams currently in the relegation zone having lost more games.
Since beating Aston Villa 4-1 on November 3, Tottenham has won only five of their 17 games in all competitions.
The team’s inability to win consistently has raised concerns about their top-four ambitions.
Tottenham has failed to win in their last five Premier League games, their longest winless streak since November 2023.
The team has lost 18 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, a statistic that will worry Postecoglou.
Spurs have won only one of their last nine Premier League matches, a 5-0 thrashing of bottom-side Southampton.
Indeed, since the start of this run, only Leicester and Southampton have earned fewer points in the Premier League than Spurs.
Tottenham’s struggles have raised questions about Postecoglou’s future at the club.
The Australian tactician has come under fire for his team’s defensive frailties and inability to win consistently.
Postecoglou’s comments after the Arsenal defeat suggested that he is feeling the pressure.
“Of course, the defeats hurt me,” he said. “Not acceptable. Too many losses this year. Too many games getting away from us.”
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes that Postecoglou is “skating on thin ice” and that his job is under threat.
Keown attributed Tottenham’s struggles to their high-pressing game, which has left them exposed at the back.
Former Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon echoed Keown’s sentiments, saying that the team’s form was “not good enough.”
Lennon emphasized that the players needed to take responsibility for their performances.
Son Heung-min, Tottenham’s star striker, acknowledged that the players needed to improve their discipline and work rate.
“We have to do better in every aspect,” Son said. “When you look at the table, it’s not good enough.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was scathing in his assessment of Tottenham’s defending.
Ferdinand compared Tottenham’s defensive display to an “academy under-18s game” and criticized their inability to play over the press.
Tottenham’s struggles have raised concerns about their ability to compete with the top teams in the league.
The team’s fans will be hoping for a swift turnaround in fortunes, but it remains to be seen whether Postecoglou can arrest the slide.
One thing is certain, however: Tottenham’s current form is unacceptable, and something needs to change – fast.
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