Frank from Spurs: “Traitors” at Arsenal and Derby of Madness

Thomas Frank Anticipates a “Madhouse” Derby at Arsenal

Tottenham coach Thomas Frank has warned his team to prepare for a “madhouse” derby against Arsenal. The match promises to be a spectacle full of excitement and tension. Tottenham will face their arch-rival on Sunday, seeking their second Premier League victory at the Emirates Stadium since its inauguration 19 years ago. Although the Spurs’ recent record in the North London derby is not favorable, this match is always synonymous with drama and excitement.

The coach expects a difficult match, but one in which anything can happen. The atmosphere in the stadium evens things out a bit more due to the competitiveness.

Thomas Frank

Frank, who managed a draw with Arsenal last season with Brentford, fondly remembers his first Premier League match in 2021, which ended in a memorable 2-0 victory. However, two key players from that team, David Raya and Christian Nørgaard, now play for Arsenal.

Faced with this situation, Frank joked: “Two of them are now traitors and moved to the wrong club!”

The coach expects a complicated but exciting match for the fans. Frank emphasized the importance of embracing “controlled chaos” and taking advantage of transitions, high pressing, and set pieces. Set-piece plays are expected to be crucial, as Arsenal has scored 12 goals from corners and free kicks so far this season. Tottenham has also been productive in this aspect, with five goals in the Premier League, thanks to the hiring of Andreas Georgson as a set-piece coach this summer. Georgson worked with Frank at Brentford, and Arsenal’s set-piece specialist, Nicolas Jover, also started under the Danish coach in West London. Frank reflected on the similarity between both coaches: “Both are very curious, both want to learn and constantly develop by studying the game of set plays, so in that sense they have the same mentality in many aspects.” The coach also highlighted the importance of set plays, stating that they account for a third of the goals and that his team will always seek victory.

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Frank believes his work at Brentford has inspired many clubs to focus more on set pieces.