Arsenal hold a staggering lead over Tottenham in a startling statistic that highlights a major problem under Thomas Frank.

Arsenal have pulled far ahead of Tottenham in a striking statistic that exposes a significant issue under Thomas Frank. Spurs’ first season under Frank has shown glimpses of stability, but those promising moments have been offset by performances that left fans increasingly frustrated.

The 0-1 home defeat to Chelsea, marking their fifth straight loss to London rivals, was a turning point. Tottenham appeared lifeless and ineffective throughout the ninety minutes, barely creating any meaningful chances. Their expected goals (xG) of just 0.05 reflected their struggles, and they would likely have suffered a heavier defeat if not for several excellent saves from Guglielmo Vicario. Similar struggles were evident in the 0-0 draw with Monaco in the Champions League and the early-season 0-1 loss to Bournemouth, eroding the goodwill Frank initially built.

Tottenham now sit bottom of the Premier League for through balls played, having managed just four in eleven league matches—an average of 0.36 per game. By contrast, league leaders Arsenal have completed 40 through balls in the same period. The four Spurs through balls came from Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr, and Xavi Simons, highlighting how pragmatic Frank’s approach has been.

Under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs averaged 2.39 through balls per game in 2023/24 and even last season’s 54 still far outstrips the current output.

The absence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski has contributed to the decline, as both were key creators last season. Maddison is still some way from returning, and Kulusevski has resumed training but with no confirmed comeback date.

To rebuild their attacking rhythm, Tottenham will need to give Xavi Simons more freedom, particularly when paired with dynamic midfield runners. Coordinating shadow striker movements more effectively could also create the gaps their forwards have been lacking, offering a clear path for Spurs to improve their attacking output.