Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that manager Thomas Frank will not be sacked in the immediate aftermath of their chastening 4-1 defeat to North London rivals Arsenal.
Derby Day Disaster at the Emirates
The decision comes despite growing unrest from supporters after a series of indifferent performances culminated in a thumping loss at the Emirates Stadium. Eberechi Eze, a player who was close to joining Spurs in the summer, scored a hat-trick for the Gunners, while Leandro Trossard also found the net.
The comprehensive victory allowed Arsenal to strengthen their position at the Premier League summit, leaving Tottenham to reflect on their fourth league defeat of the season. The manner of the loss has intensified scrutiny on Frank's tactics and team selection.
Club Hierarchy Prevents Knee-Jerk Reaction
However, according to reports from The Telegraph, the club's owners, the Lewis family, are not panicking. They remain committed to the long-term project they envisioned when appointing Frank in the summer.
Spurs paid £10 million in compensation to Brentford to secure the Dane's services, and he signed a three-year deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The hierarchy is keen to give him time to turn things around and will not be forced into a reactive decision based on one result, even one as significant as the North London derby.
Frank Takes Full Responsibility
Speaking after the match, Frank shouldered the blame for the poor performance. He admitted his tactical setup, which began as a 5-4-1 formation, did not work and that a half-time change backfired almost immediately.
"I completely understand the question and I will always take the full responsibility," Frank stated. "The full responsibility will always be on me today when we didn't perform."
He acknowledged the concern over the team's inconsistent displays but insisted he did not expect his side to be so uncompetitive against Mikel Arteta's men. The squad reported for training as usual on Monday before travelling to France for their crucial Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain.
While Frank's job is safe for now, the pressure is undoubtedly mounting. He faces the dual challenge of improving results on the pitch and winning over a sceptical fanbase concerned by the team's direction.
