Thomas Frank & Co atoned for Son Heung-min; It’s all yours Arsenal – Opinion

You could see many Tottenham supporters celebrating that miss because that miss was not only a lost chance but also a turning point that derailed Arsenal’s title bid in the 2023/24 season.

Fast forward to February 2026.

Tottenham, with a side that has been quite inconsistent all season in the league, without as many as 12 first-team players and without a win in the last five Premier League games, were widely expected to be battered by Pep Guardiola’s side but found a way.

Spurs defied expectations as City dropped points

The Lilywhites’ setup looked quite vulnerable in the first half, and that showed as City started picking up early momentum, and just seven minutes in, Rayan Cherki put the first part Vicario when Radu Dragusin could not quickly cover ground to close in on his shot. And a moment later Spurs were defending for their lives. And just along the stroke of halftime, the Citizens’ winter signing, Antoine Semenyo, doubled City’s lead after Dragusin’s loose clearance.

By the time that the half-time whistle rang around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the home fans were already booing loudly (something that has been a theme at N17 along the ongoing 2025/26 season).

But Thomas Frank went into the halftime ensuring that the structure was wired into his players, and suddenly you could see the Lilywhites trying to match up man-for-man with Guardiola’s midfield (in a more compact structure) and pushing Tottenham’s attacking players higher after regains.

And suddenly you could see a bit of a transformation. Tottenham started to press in a unit, and that started forced passes in City’s buildup (which ended up turning the tide). Once Simons and Solanke were allowed to run the show, City’s composure started to crumble.

As news outlet Flashscore put it, it was “a day to remember for Arsenal without even kicking a ball” (as even Aston Villa lost to Brentford earlier in the day, which was followed by Tottenham drawing). Many would think that Tottenham’s heroes from yesterday have become Arsenal’s too.

And this far difference of results shows how it has been a season of ironic highs and lows at Hotspur Way. Before the game, things were quite volatile, where the atmosphere was toxic, but there was joy and backing once Solanke started to run the show in front of the goal in the second half.

This moment is also worth going back to another highlight reel from the season, as Thomas Frank had found out how thin the margin for error is when it comes to Arsenal. It was only barely weeks ago when the Dane was mocked for sipping coffee from an Arsenal-branded mug, and it was a slip-up that frustrated supporters. “I wouldn’t do that on purpose,” Frank spoke about it at the time. But in a night when many of their own expected Tottenham to lie down, Frank and his depleted side instead pulled off something remarkable.

This may only be a draw, and it does little to change Tottenham’s miseries (at least on the table), and it is a point which Arsenal supporters might savour. This point was about the grit and determination at N17, something that has been missing in domestic games this season, and it will give much confidence to the players, even as it ultimately tips the title race further in Arsenal’s favour.