Thomas Frank issue at Tottenham made clear as Arsenal 10 times better in one area
Tottenham’s trip to Arsenal after the international break has just got even more daunting as a stat reveals the gap between both sides.
Thomas Frank is under pressure to deliver a statement performance, but he’ll have to set up his team to combat Arsenal’s devastating threat from set-piece situations when they travel to the Emirates on 23 November.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been anything but a fortress, and Frank has failed to galvanise the crowd with a consistent performance in N17.
Dropping points to Man United and Chelsea was a huge blow for Tottenham, and Frank must produce a huge scalp against Arsenal to ease the worries that he might not be the right man for the job.
Creativity has been a big problem, with Xavi Simons starting the season in poor form, and the lack of incisive through balls has been laid bare in a crushing stat.
Tottenham have played the least through-balls this season
Tottenham’s appalling record at home has seen a number of lethargic performances that has resulted in five winless games in a row at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Man United has once again sparked fears that there is clearly something missing when it comes to playing fast-paced football in possession.
Spurs have played the fewest through-balls this season (four), whilst Arsenal have played the most (40). That is 10 times more.
| Arsenal | Stat | Tottenham |
| 8 | Wins | 5 |
| 2 | Draws | 3 |
| 1 | Losses | 3 |
| 26 | Points | 18 |
| 1st | Premier League position | 5th |
The team with the next lowest amount is 20th-placed Wolves (nine), and it clearly shows that there is a lack of creativity in central midfield.
James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski registered 43 goal contributions combined in all competitions last season, and it’s clear their ingenuity is dearly missed at the heart of the team.
Spurs have created the 15th-most expected goals (11.0) in the Premier League this season, and Frank is yet to overcome the obstacle of breaking teams down from open play.
The first North London derby will take place on 23 November, straight after the international break, and the stats don’t look good for the Tottenham fans.
Thomas Frank verdict will be made after Arsenal vs Tottenham
Tottenham’s last Premier League away win over arch-rivals Arsenal was in 2010, and current form suggests they may suffer another bitter defeat.
Not only are the Gunners four points clear at the top of the table, but they are historically very strong against ‘big six’ teams at home.
The hope for Spurs is that they can continue their fantastic form on the road by frustrating Mikel Arteta’s side ahead of an extremely difficult period for both sides.
Both North London clubs face huge Champions League ties on the following Wednesday, and Frank’s mettle and tactical nous will be judged on how he approaches the North London derby and the trip to Paris Saint-Germain.
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