Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has delivered a scathing verdict on Thomas Frank, insisting the Danish manager “is not for Spurs” after Tottenham Hotspur’s painful 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in the north London derby.
The performance at the Emirates Stadium left many supporters frustrated, but Vega went a step further by questioning whether Frank is the right man to lead the club forward.
Tottenham entered the match under immense pressure and with expectations running high, but Frank opted for a defensive setup that immediately raised eyebrows.
Instead of trying to impose themselves on the game, Spurs dropped deep, absorbed pressure and struggled to offer any meaningful threat on the counter. Arsenal took control early, and once they settled into their rhythm, the gulf in confidence and organisation between the two sides became increasingly clear.
The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute when Leandro Trossard found space and punished Spurs with a composed finish. Just four minutes before the break, Eberechi Eze struck again, leaving Tottenham trailing 2-0 at halftime and looking lost for solutions.
The biggest blow, however, came just moments after the restart as Eze added a third goal, silencing any faint hopes of a Tottenham comeback.
Richarlison managed to pull one back ten minutes later, but it barely changed the story of the afternoon. Spurs looked overwhelmed and disjointed, and their brief spell of momentum quickly faded.
Eze completed his hat-trick with 14 minutes remaining, sealing a dominant and comfortable win for Arsenal while handing Tottenham a result that felt like a harsh reality check.
Vega, who played for Spurs during the late 1990s, made no effort to hide his disappointment. For him, the problem extends beyond a single match. He believes Tottenham’s direction under Thomas Frank is heading the wrong way, and he expressed his concerns publicly.
Writing on X, he made it clear that although he usually supports managers through difficult periods, this time he cannot. Frank, he said, simply is not the right fit for a club with Tottenham’s expectations.
He acknowledged that Frank may be a likeable figure, but insisted that football rewards ruthlessness, not niceness. In Vega’s view, Spurs need a manager capable of setting high standards, pushing the team aggressively, and refusing to accept mediocrity.
He argued that Tottenham are a club that “think big but act like a small club,” and only a manager with a harder edge can change that mindset.
Vega’s comments reflect growing concerns among fans who feel the team has regressed in intensity and ambition. Frank’s tactical choices, especially in big matches, have increasingly come under scrutiny.
Supporters expected boldness and attacking bravery, but instead, Spurs have looked hesitant, inconsistent, and unable to impose their identity. The defeat to Arsenal was not just another loss; it was a reminder of how far the team still is from competing with the Premier League’s strongest clubs.
Tottenham’s season has been uneven so far, with four defeats in their opening twelve Premier League games. Their position in ninth place highlights a troubling lack of progress, especially given the investment, expectations, and talent available in the squad.
As frustration builds, pressure on Frank is only growing louder, and results like the one at the Emirates make it harder for him to argue that the team is moving in the right direction.
Now Frank must try to lift his players quickly ahead of a crucial Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain. The demands will be even higher, and the pressure will only intensify if Spurs fail to respond.
After that, they return to Premier League action with a match against Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a game that already feels important for calming tensions and rebuilding belief.
Vega’s criticism may be blunt, but it reflects a wider feeling among supporters who expect more from Tottenham. Whether Thomas Frank can turn things around remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the patience of fans and former players is wearing thin, and the manager must show he has the authority, vision and ruthlessness needed to restore confidence at the club.
