Thomas Frank now has the green light to unleash one of Tottenham’s most exciting attacking talents when Spurs meet Arsenal in Sunday’s North London Derby. As players return from international duty, the Spurs boss will be assessing their fitness levels and confidence, and Brennan Johnson is one of those who arrives back in top form and ready to make a statement.
Johnson’s influence at Tottenham last season did not always receive the credit it deserved. While many focused on Spurs’ inconsistent results, the young winger quietly delivered a highly impressive campaign.
He finished the 2024/25 season as the club’s top scorer in all competitions, netting 18 goals and adding seven assists. That gave him 25 goal contributions in 53 matches, a return that speaks for itself when considering his age, adaptation period, and the pressure he faced after arriving from Nottingham Forest in a £47.5 million move.
Even with those numbers, Johnson continues to divide opinion. Some fans have questioned his final pass or his ability to consistently make the right decision in dangerous areas.
The summer signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham also added new competition, leaving Johnson without a guaranteed place in the starting XI. Still, his versatility has ensured that he has featured regularly, and he entered the international break with four goals in 17 Spurs appearances this season.
If anyone needed reminding of Johnson’s potential, his showing for Wales during the break provided the perfect example. In a dominant 7-1 victory over North Macedonia in Cardiff, the Spurs winger was among the scorers as his country secured their place in the World Cup play-offs.
Harry Wilson stole the headlines with a hat-trick, but Johnson’s contribution was just as eye-catching. After North Macedonia briefly threatened a comeback at 2-1, Johnson produced a moment of pure quality that pushed Wales back into full control.
Receiving the ball on the left, he cut inside with confidence, shifting his balance effortlessly before unleashing a stunning strike that flew into the top corner. It was the kind of goal that only players with real instinct and bravery attempt, and the reaction from his teammates said everything. Wilson praised Johnson’s impact immediately after the game, describing the goal as “amazing” and crediting it for giving Wales the breathing space they needed to push on and dominate the match.
Such a moment will do wonders for Johnson’s confidence, and Thomas Frank will be hoping that energy carries straight into the derby against Arsenal. With Dejan Kulusevski ruled out and doubts remaining over the fitness of Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani, Johnson could find himself handed a starting spot at the weekend. Spurs will need attacking sharpness, pace, and direct running to exploit Arsenal’s back line, and Johnson offers all those qualities in abundance.
Frank has already spoken openly about what Johnson brings to the team. The manager believes the winger’s ability to arrive in the right areas is his biggest strength, and he praised his movement and work rate after the recent match against Monaco. Frank highlighted that Johnson not only created Tottenham’s biggest chance in that game but also worked tirelessly off the ball, something the manager values deeply.
As Spurs players return to Hotspur Way on Wednesday and Thursday, attention will immediately shift to preparing for the huge clash with Arsenal. It is a fixture that demands intensity, courage, and big performances from players willing to take risks. Johnson has shown, both for club and country, that he is capable of delivering moments that change games. His goal for Wales was a reminder of the raw talent Tottenham invested in, and Sunday presents the ideal stage for him to show it again.
Frank will assess his squad carefully, but Johnson has done everything possible to put himself in contention. Now it may simply come down to trust—and the belief that his international momentum can carry Spurs through one of the most important fixtures of their season.
