Thomas Frank’s Record vs Arsenal: Spurs Boss Right to Be ‘Very Confident’?

Thomas Frank has declared himself “super excited” and “very confident” in his team ahead of his first competitive North London derby as Tottenham Hotspur boss.

Frank oversaw a 1-0 win over Arsenal during Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Asia in the summer, but his side are seen as heavy underdogs going into Sunday’s Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium.

Spurs, under former manager Ange Postecoglou, finished 36 points behind the Gunners last season and Frank’s men are already eight points behind their rivals after 11 rounds of fixtures this term.

Frank noted Arsenal’s fine start to the season in his pre-match press conference on Friday, referring to Arsenal’s status as Premier League leaders, where they sit four points clear of Manchester City in second.

How Arsenal and Tottenham have started the Premier League season

Thomas Frank “very confident” ahead of first North London derby

But Frank also spoke bullishly as he told reporters: “I’m very confident in the team going into the game on Sunday.

“Big respect against a good team, currently – and we don’t like it – but Arsenal are top of the table by a distance.

“They’ve been good for a few years but we have to turn that around. It’s one game on Sunday, one game where I’m convinced we will compete a lot.”

Frank added: “This is the real one. I’m super excited. Of course, before I stepped into the club, I knew about the North London derby but it’s when you are in it, you sense it and feel that it is important.

“You get that from the fans, the staff, the players, people who have been working here for years. This is the big one.

“I always say the next game is the most important but I am very, very aware that there are two games a year that are even more important – and this is the first of them.

“We’re ready, we’re looking forward to it and we’ll do everything we can to win.”

But recent history suggests Frank may struggle to deliver the victory he is craving. Spurs have lost five and drawn one of their last six meetings with the Gunners, who have not lost a home North London derby in the league since 2010.

Meanwhile, Arsenal — who have the best overall London derby record in Premier League history — dominate their all-time head-to-head record against Spurs.

Arsenal vs Tottenham: Premier League head-to-head record

Thomas Frank’s record against Arsenal

Tottenham’s record against Arsenal may not be the best, but Thomas Frank’s is even worse.

Frank faced the Gunners nine times as manager of Brentford, delivering just one win and overseeing six defeats.

Thomas Frank’s results against Arsenal as Brentford boss

Thomas Frank pinpoints importance of set-pieces against Arsenal

That sole victory over Arsenal, a 2-0 win in August 2021, actually came in Brentford’s very first game in the Premier League, when they overpowered Mikel Arteta’s men from set-pieces, with the second goal of the night coming from a long throw-in.

Since then Arsenal, inspired by former Brentford set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, have become England’s best team when it comes to dead-ball situations.

When asked about Arsenal’s threat from set plays, Frank said on Friday: “It’s a big challenge.

“But I think we have the record of having conceded the fewest set pieces [this season]. That’s not a bad stat either.

“But there is no doubt that a battle we need to win to win the game is the set-piece battle. Win that battle and we’re halfway there.”

Arsenal injury issues boost Spurs chances

Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that his Arsenal team will not be at full strength on Sunday.

Defender Gabriel — who is rated as the fifth most valuable centre-back in world football, behind Gunners teammate William Saliba — will miss out with a thigh injury.

That could really help Spurs because Arsenal have an awful recent record without Gabriel. Arteta’s side have won just 33.33% of the Premier League games Gabriel has missed since the start of the 2021/22 season, while their win rate with him during the same period is a much healthier 66.42%.

Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyokeres are also expected to miss Sunday’s game, while Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt.

Conversely, Tottenham had some positive injury news to report this week, with Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, Randal Kolo Muani and Mo Kudus all passed fit to face Arsenal.

However, Spurs will still be without James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin.