Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his sympathy for Thomas Frank after he was sacked by rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Spurs sit only five points clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone having failed to win a single game in domestic competition in 2026, despite managing to finish fourth in the league phase of the Champions League.
Frank leaves Spurs as statistically the worst-ever manager of a big-six Premier League club.
Tottenham are at serious risk of being dragged into a fight to beat the drop having now gone eight league matches without a win.
The decision to sack Frank was announced on Wednesday.
Spurs said in a statement: “The Club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men’s Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today.
“Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together.
“However, results and performances have led the Board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.
“Throughout his time at the Club, Thomas has conducted himself with unwavering commitment, giving everything in his efforts to move the Club forward.
“We would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him every success in the future.”
Read more: Havertz Suffers Another Injury In Fresh Blow To Arsenal
Arteta reacts to Frank exit
At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Arsenal boss Arteta was asked for his thoughts and feelings on the club’s north London rivals deciding to part company with their manager.
“Well, always very sad news when you have a colleague that doesn’t continue doing his job because Thomas is an excellent coach, he’s an extraordinary man as well and he’s proven that in the league.
“We know where we are. We know that our responsibility is beyond just performance,” Arteta replied.
“That sometimes result dictates what happens with us. We wish him all the very best for whatever he decides to do next.”
Arteta was also quizzed on whether the Premier League is becoming more impatient, while it was put to him that Spurs have now cycled their way through eight different managers during his time in the Arsenal dugout.
“I don’t know. I don’t think you can just take every example in the same possible way.
“Also, I think in the context of every club it is very different but it’s always a possibility,” he added.
“I think every era is different at every club and we have in this Premier League two of the most iconic managers with Arsene and Sir Alex as well for so many years.
“That has changed a lot from both clubs. I don’t know.
“It depends on many factors. In my opinion the first one is if you have the players right behind you and they enjoy what they do and they believe in what you do, it’s a big thing.
“Then you have to win a lot of games because at the end, if you don’t do that, you’re not going to continue in the job, and that’s the reality of our job.”
Spurs players grew tired of Frank’s Arsenal love-in
According to the Daily Telegraph, Frank disillusioned the Tottenham dressing room with his persistent praise of Arsenal.
A source said: “He was constantly going on to the players about Arsenal and they quickly got sick of it.
“Even before and after the game at the Emirates, he was telling them how good Arsenal were.
“The feeling among some was very much ‘just shut up about Arsenal’.”
Frank also upset supporters by mentioning Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ team in his opening press conference when insisting Spurs would ‘100 percent lose games’, while he was also spotted drinking from an Arsenal-branded cup prior to their defeat to Bournemouth in January.
Tottenham are hoping to bring in a new head coach – be that an interim or permanent appointment – prior to next Sunday’s north London derby at home to Arsenal. Spurs haven’t beaten the Gunners since May 2022.
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