Thomas Frank responds to embarrassing Arsenal gaffe as Tottenham sack looms

Thomas Frank was bizarrely seen drinking from an Arsenal-branded cup before Tottenham’s Premier League defeat to Bournemouth.

Fans in north London were quick to pick up on pictures showing Frank sipping from a cup with an Arsenal badge before kick-off at the Vitality Stadium.

The PR gaffe was the last thing Frank needed given he was already fighting to save his job and could yet face the sack after another disappointing result, this time a 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth.

Mathys Tel put Spurs in front inside five minutes and Joao Palhinha looked set to have earned the visitors a point following home goals from Evanilson and Eli Junior Kroupi.

But Antoine Semenyo, playing in his final game for Bournemouth ahead of a January transfer to Manchester City, scored an injury-time winner to pile more pressure on Frank.

An eighth defeat of the season leaves Tottenham 13th in the Premier League, 21 points behind leaders and north London rivals Arsenal.

Frank described the defeat as ‘extremely painful’ and felt his team were ‘close’ to winning the game despite returning empty-handed.

‘That is very, very difficult, really painful,’ said Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham manager in the summer. ‘The players put in everything.

‘We started really well and went 1-0 up. I loved the mentality and character in the second half. There was one team out there and that was us.

‘To concede a goal five minutes into extra time is just so painful. It’s very, very hard to take.

‘The travelling fans were amazing today. They supported us throughout the game. The players are frustrated, I’m frustrated.

‘We are all hurt, the fans are hurt. That’s absolutely natural. That’s why football is emotional. It’s just very painful for everyone involved with Tottenham today.’

Asked about the bizarre images of him holding an Arsenal-branded cup, Frank said: ‘I definitely did not notice it. It would be completely stupid of me to take it if I knew.

‘It’s a little bit sad in football that I need to be asked about it. I would never do something that stupid.

‘I think we’re definitely going in the wrong direction if we need to worry about me having a cup with another logo of another club.

‘Of course, I would never do that. That’s extremely stupid.’

A large section of Tottenham fans are waiting for Frank to be sacked following the team’s poor form this season.

Tim Sherwood, the former Spurs boss, insisted he ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if Frank lost his job after the defeat to Bournemouth.

‘It’s a tough time for the Tottenham players and certainly a tough time for Thomas Frank right now,’ he said on Sky Sports.

‘They’re not winning games and they’re not playing good football. I worry for him, I really do.

‘I hope they give him more time but I wouldn’t be surprised if he got sacked. I hope he doesn’t go but I wouldn’t be surprised.’

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