Thomas Frank paid the price for underestimating Xavi Simons.
Tottenham Hotspur suffered their most embarrassing defeat in a campaign already filled with letdowns. Their sluggish 1-0 loss to Chelsea had already placed pressure on Thomas Frank, but the latest 4-1 hammering by Arsenal in the season’s biggest North London Derby has pushed the club into chaos.
Frank has plenty to answer for after a match that slipped away immediately. His most questioned decision came before kick-off, when he benched marquee summer signing Xavi Simons and started inexperienced Wilson Odobert in the No. 10 role.
Odobert struggled badly against Arsenal’s top-level midfield and defence. Though he has shown flashes in recent weeks, those displays were overstated by eager Spurs fans trying to counter earlier criticism. The young Frenchman simply wasn’t ready for such a high-stakes match.
Simons came on in the second half, and though he failed to make a major impact, he still offered more than Odobert and gave the team a slight lift.
A player of Simons’ calibre shouldn’t be on the bench or used out of position. Tottenham made him their record signing after strong interest from top clubs, yet Frank has been unable to use him effectively—an issue that must be spotlighted after the derby defeat. Spurs have not put Simons in a situation where he can succeed, and dropping him for such a crucial match was always risky. Supporters who justified Odobert’s selection were quickly proven wrong.
There was no reasonable explanation for leaving Simons out, and Frank’s repeated sidelining of the club’s biggest signing could ultimately cost him, as more fans begin to doubt whether he is suited for this lesson
Xavi Simons’ situation going into the Arsenal match
When Spurs prepared to face league leaders Arsenal, attention centred on the No. 10 role more than any other position. Simons wasn’t Tottenham’s first target to replace the injured James Maddison; they initially pursued Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze. But Eze chose Arsenal—his boyhood club—at the last minute, forcing Tottenham to pivot to Simons, who had been heavily linked with Chelsea before their interest cooled. Spurs fans initially believed they got the better deal when they signed Simons for less than Arsenal paid for Eze.
However, Simons has struggled to deliver. Although not entirely his fault—playing behind an out-of-form Richarlison and ahead of the Bentancur–Palhinha midfield pairing hasn’t helped—he has still underperformed. With only one assist and no goals in around eight Premier League appearances, he has offered little threat, hasn’t progressed the ball effectively, his defensive work has been lacking, and his overall involvement has been minimal.
Facing Arsenal and the very player Spurs wanted first, Simons needed a standout performance. As Tottenham’s costliest summer signing, expectations are far higher than one goal contribution in eight league games.
No player carried more pressure going into the derby. And if Simons produced another ineffective display against Arsenal’s elite midfield—featuring Premier League Player of the Season contenders like Declan Rice—it would only raise more serious questions about his fit at Tottenham.
