Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta today paid tribute to “excellent coach and extraordinary man” Thomas Frank following his sacking by Tottenham.
Frank was dismissed this morning after eight months in the role and with Spurs 16th in the Premier League table following last night’s home defeat by Newcastle.
The former Brentford head coach had hoped for more time given Tottenham’s injury crisis but the axe fell with the club having time to line up a replacement before their next game, the North London derby on February 22.
Arteta spoke in glowing terms of his former rival, saying: “It’s always very sad news when you have a colleague that doesn’t continue doing his job because Thomas is an excellent coach, he’s an extraordinary man as well and he’s proven that in the league. We know where we are. We know that our responsibility is beyond just performance.
“Sometimes results dictates what happens with us. We wish him all the very best for whatever he decides to do next.”
Arsenal reaping the rewards for sticking with Arteta
Spurs have had eight managers since Arteta was appointed at the Emirates in 2019. It hasn’t always been plain sailing but Arsenal are reaping the rewards for their patience with the Gunners six points clear at the top of the Premier League and still in the Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Asked to explain his own longevity, the Spaniard said: “It depends on many factors. In my opinion the first one is if you have the players right behind you and they enjoy what they do and they believe in what you do, it’s a big thing. Then you have to win a lot of games because at the end, if you don’t do that, you’re not going to continue in the job, and that’s the reality of our job.
“At the end, the percentage of wins that you get has to be really high if you want to continue in the job. Then you can go through a spell that you don’t win games and that’s the moment that the ownership, or the sporting director, whoever it is has to make a decision and that varies and changes from club to club.
“Between all of us we have been able to sustain and bring that stability, performance, joy and progression to the club and hopefully this season we’re going to even be better.”
Frank sacking won’t disrupt Arsenal plans – Arteta
Spurs could have an interim manager in place for the derby but Arteta denied it would massively change his plans.
“Focus more on us and make sure that what we want to achieve, the way we want to play, the things that we want to happen in the game, that happen many times, in relation or not in relation to what they will do tactically,” he said.
“Because then the set-up is one thing, the player profile is another thing and the momentum of the game and context is something else. And we have to be able to adapt and recognise that and understand those rules to do what we have to do.”
Arsenal go to Brentford tomorrow night.
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