Igor Tudor described Arsenal as “probably the best team in the world at this moment” after his first match in charge of Tottenham ended in a heavy 4-1 defeat in the North London derby.
Two goals apiece from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres secured a big win for the Premier League leaders, with Randal Kolo Muani’s first-half equaliser briefly raising hopes among the home support before Arsenal pulled away.
For Tudor, appointed earlier this month following the dismissal of Thomas Frank, it was a sobering introduction to life in the Spurs dugout. The Croatian admitted the scale of the challenge was laid bare by the gulf between the sides.
“Arsenal are now probably the best team in the world at this moment,” he said. “If we were thinking today that it’s a derby and we can give something more, more mentality and more motivation, the reality is that there are things you can’t change in 3-4 training sessions. It’s impossible.
“So this was not a perfect team to play in the first game, but we need something good and today shows me the level.
“There is a big gap between the two teams, too much Arsenal for us. But it is nice to understand where we are – a game to show the reality.
“It’s nice for one point of view to understand that we must change habits, change state of mind. It’s the only way to work.”
With 11 league matches remaining and Spurs yet to register a league win in 2026, Tudor acknowledged confidence is fragile within the squad, particularly without the ball.
“Without the ball, a lack of confidence is very evident,” he said. “I am very sad, angry, I am everything, but it is good to understand where is our goal and to become serious.
“The medicine is to look in the mirror, but I saw the will and the passion, so I am not angry because they didn’t do, but because they weren’t able to do at this moment.”
Tottenham believed they had drawn level at 2-2 in the second half when Kolo Muani found the net again, only for the goal to be ruled out for a push on Gabriel in the build-up.
Although the contact appeared minimal, Tudor refrained from criticising the officials.
“Touching the players in the box, it’s always about referees,” he said. “They make decisions how they see it.”
