Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur

Lore & Background

The club endured a poor season on the pitch, finishing 17th in the Premier League for the second consecutive season. Tottenham were very close to being relegated, ultimately edging out London rivals West Ham United for survival by just two points. Early eliminations from all the cup competitions in conjunction with the league finish ensured Spurs for the 2026–27 season would not play in any UEFA-sanctioned competition for the first time since the 2023–24 season and only the third time since the 2004–05 season.

Reader's Guide

Prior to the season, Thomas Frank was appointed head coach, replacing Ange Postecoglou. The summer transfer window saw Son Heung-min depart for Los Angeles FC. Daniel Levy resigned on 4 September 2025. The season started positively, but a collapse in form led to Frank being dismissed in February 2026. Igor Tudor was appointed interim head coach on 17 February, but was sacked on 29 March after 44 days. Roberto De Zerbi then took over as permanent manager. De Zerbi led Spurs to eleven points from their final six matches, securing safety on the final day with a 1–0 win over Everton, while West Ham were relegated.

Did You Know?

• Tottenham lost six matches in a row across all competitions for the first time in their history.
• Tottenham had only three home league wins all season, the joint-lowest by any Premier League team to escape relegation along with Hull City in 2008–09.
• Tottenham did not win any of their first fifteen league games of 2026, the second-longest league winless streak in their history.
• The season was considered by many to be the only serious threat of relegation experienced by a 'Big Six' club since Manchester City were taken over in 2008.