Ange Postecoglou reacts to ‘unacceptable’ Tottenham NLD performance

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a bitterly disappointing defeat against Arsenal in the North London derby, leaving manager Ange Postecoglou with sharp words for his side and a determination to turn things around quickly.

Arsenal prevail in high-stakes North London derby

Wednesday evening saw the Lilywhites of Tottenham Hotspur travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in what was the second North London derby of the 2024/25 season.

With Arsenal coming off the back of two consecutive cup defeats against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup and Manchester United in the FA Cup, the Gunners were under pressure to respond and capitalise on Liverpool’s dropped points the previous evening.

For Tottenham, this was an opportunity to reverse their faltering form and reignite belief amongst their fanbase.

From the opening whistle, Arsenal showcased their intent, dominating possession and carving out chance after chance in the opening stages of the match.

The early momentum seemed entirely in the Gunners’ favour, yet football often defies the narrative, and Tottenham stunned the Emirates crowd by taking the lead against the run of play with a goal from Heung-min Son.

However, Arsenal refused to be subdued, and their relentless pressure eventually bore fruit. Once more, a set piece brought them level before the break, and Mikel Arteta’s men did not relent.

Just before the interval, Leandro Trossard struck what would ultimately prove to be the decisive goal, ensuring Arsenal secured the bragging rights and left Tottenham to reflect on another frustrating defeat.

Ange Postecoglou reacts to derby day defeat: “Not acceptable”

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou did not hold back in his assessment of his team’s performance, particularly in the opening half.

His post-match interview was candid, reflecting the frustration felt by many Spurs supporters. He said as relayed by BBC Sport: “Nowhere near good enough, especially in the first half. We were too passive. We let Arsenal dictate the game.

“Second half was a little better not nowhere near good enough. Not acceptable. Ultimately the responsibility lies with me and how I prepare the players.

“I’m more interested in how we play and we were not anywhere near the levels today. Go back to work and prepare for a tough game.

“Of course, they [defeats] hurt me. Not acceptable. Too many losses this year. Too many games getting away from us. It needs to stop.

“No other way of looking at it. If you give up now, there’s no point. Right now we have a big game against Everton this weekend. That’s our focus.”

A tale of contrasting fortunes

While Ange Postecoglou’s criticism of his side was justified, the match served as a clear indication of the contrasting trajectories of both clubs at this stage of the season.

Arsenal, currently four points behind leaders Liverpool, are firmly in the title race, while Tottenham’s struggles see them languishing in 13th place, just eight points above the relegation zone.

It was evident that Tottenham’s players were committed to their manager’s philosophy, but the gulf in quality between the two sides was apparent on the day

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