Tottenham Manager Thomas Frank Speaks Out on Arsenal Cup Image

Thomas Frank has explained how he ended up drinking from an Arsenal cup ahead of Tottenham Hotspur‘s 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth. The Dane was somehow spotted with the Gunners-themed drink before his side suffered their eighth loss in 21 league games.

When it rains, it pours for Frank, whose side took the lead at the Vitality through Mathys Tel (5′), only to end up losing after Antoine Semenyo netted a 90+5th-minute winner. It was another torrid night for the Danish coach who is under massive pressure with his Spurs side sat 14th in the Premier League table.

Frank was already feeling the heat heading into tonight’s game, and the cup incident has only further intensified talk of his dismissal. He arrived in the summer as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement.

Frank: It Would Be Stupid Of Me

While most of the post-match questions put to Frank focused on his team’s collapse against the Cherries, he was also asked about the cup he drank from before the game. It was bizarre, given that the two sides met on the South Coast, but he insisted he wasn’t aware of it.

Frank gave a defiant response, questioning why he was being asked about it. He said (via Alasdair Gold):

“I definitely did not notice it. It would be completely stupid of me to take it if I knew. It’s a little bit sad in football that I need to be asked about it. I would never do something that stupid.”

Spurs’ loss to Bournemouth was a massive setback for Frank and left them winless at the start of 2026. The Lilywhites drew 0-0 with Brentford on New Year’s Day before drawing 1-1 at home against Sunderland last Sunday.

Frank Wants Spurs To Copy ‘One of World’s Best’ Arsenal

Tottenham came into the season in positive spirits, especially after beating Arsenal in the first North London derby outside the UK. Frank led his men to a 1-0 win in Asia during pre-season, and there were signs of promise in that game.

Frank had given an honest assessment of the Gunners ahead of that game by branding them one of the best teams in the world. He told reporters:

“It is also right now one of the best teams, I must say unfortunately, in the world. We also need to be honest.”

Arsenal are leading the Premier League table, and a key reason has been their ability to pull out a win when not at their best. This was something Frank wanted his side to improve on and used their North London rivals as an example when speaking last week:

“Every good team needs to be able to do that. And as I said, we are building something. Also, it’s fair to say that we are not where City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are right now, unfortunately. We really want to be there, but even they need to win ugly sometimes, where they are winning 1-0.”

Frank has already tasted a competitive North London derby, and it was a day to forget after his Lilywhites were beaten 4-1 at the Emirates in November. There’s no guarantee he’ll still be in the job come February 22nd when the Gunners visit their rivals.