
ANGE POSTECOGLOU received a caution regarding “unrest” within his squad following Declan Rice’s candid assessment of Arsenal’s comeback victory.
Rice claimed that the Gunners “should have scored 10” as Tottenham finds itself struggling with only one win in their last nine Premier League outings.
Postecoglou appeared more disheartened than those critiquing Spurs’ 2-1 loss during his post-match comments.
Former Spurs winger Aaron Lennon noted that the coach might face greater scrutiny if it weren’t for a promising Carabao Cup run.
Spurs currently lead 1-0 against Liverpool heading into the semi-final’s second leg on February 6.
In light of the disappointing performance at the Emirates, Lennon stated: “This creates substantial unrest within the team.”
“If they weren’t making progress in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, serious problems could arise.
Postecoglou acknowledged that after needing extra time to overcome fifth-tier Tamworth in the FA Cup just three days earlier, Spurs were “nowhere near good enough” in their crucial match against their North London rivals.
Spurs have acquired only nine points from a possible 27, with their only win during this time being a 5-0 demolition of basement club Southampton on December 15.
Fans have witnessed merely one win at Arsenal in their last 32 visits.
Currently, Tottenham’s total of 24 points from 21 matches places them closer to Southampton’s six points than to the Gunners’ 43.
Dominic Solanke’s own goal and Leandro Trossard’s rapid finish negated an opening goal from Son Heung-min on Wednesday night.
Ange Postecoglou criticizes ‘vile and detestable’ abuse he faced at Tamworth, claiming he was targeted with objects
Rice noted: “That meant more than anything. From the very first minute, it was complete domination. You could sense it was a derby.
“To be honest, we were unfortunate; we probably should have scored 10 today.”
Postecoglou’s critique was equally harsh, and he took responsibility for the team’s performance.
He shared with TNT Sports: “Nowhere near good enough, especially in the first half. We were too passive. We allowed Arsenal to dominate the game.
“The second half was slightly better [but] … it was still not satisfactory.
“Ultimately, the responsibility lies with me and how I prepare the players.”
Too many losses this year. Too many games slipping away from us. It must stop.
Ange Postecoglou
“Certainly, these defeats hit hard. Not acceptable. Too many losses this year. We are losing too many games that should have been ours. It has to come to an end.
“If we give up now, there’s no reason to continue. Our focus now shifts to the vital match against Everton this weekend.”
Spurs sit eight points above the relegation zone, just one point ahead of Manchester United.
A loss on Sunday against the struggling Toffees, who hope that the return of David Moyes can revive their fortunes, could see Postecoglou’s team drop from 13th to 15th place.
The Aussie told BBC’s Match of the Day: “When we play well and challenge our opponents, that’s when we’re at our best, but today we failed to do that.”
Despite this, Tottenham’s main concern appears to be their defensive vulnerabilities rather than their scoring difficulties.
Spurs have netted 43 goals—only trailing league leaders Liverpool who have 48—but have conceded 32.
Arsenal player ratings vs Tottenham

By Dan King
ARSENAL staged a comeback to defeat Tottenham 2-1 in the North London derby.
Son Heung-Min opened the scoring in the 25th minute against the run of play.
However, in typical fashion, the Gunners took advantage of a corner that led to Gabriel Magalhaes mistakenly heading the ball into his own net due to Dominic Solanke.
Leandro Trossard then secured the lead for Arsenal just before halftime with an impressive finish.
Here’s how the players rated…
David Raya – 6
Faced little threat until he blocked an attempt from Kulusevski midway through the first half, then was beaten by a deflection for Son’s goal. Made no saves in the second half.
Jurrien Timber – 6
Defensively solid, but lacked confidence going forward, missing crucial crossing opportunities.
William Saliba – 6
Untroubled until Son’s shot deflected off him. Started the second half cautiously but improved to stifle Spurs’ chances.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 8
Made a key interception against Solanke and played a pivotal role in the equalizer. Impressive defensive display in the second half against Solanke.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 8
Delivered a fantastic pass to set up Sterling and showcased a well-rounded performance as the second-youngest Arsenal player to feature in a North London derby.
Thomas Partey – 7
Strengthened the midfield effectively recovering possession, especially before Arsenal’s second goal. Occasionally exposed to Spurs’ pace.
Declan Rice – 7
Covered a lot of ground and provided a crucial assist for the equalizer. Still working towards peak form, but showing signs of improvement.
Raheem Sterling – 5
Held significant possession yet faltered with execution, missing clear opportunities at the start of both halves. Hesitated to take on defenders. Substituted without hesitation.
Martin Odegaard – 6
Drove play nicely without providing a decisive pass but assisted Trossard for the second goal. Missed a chance that could have increased the lead, showing fewer signs of returning to form compared to Rice.
Leandro Trossard – 6
Frustrated fans with missed chances until scoring, but contributed little during the second half.
Kai Havertz – 4
Minimal involvement in the first half, occasionally stealing the ball from Tottenham’s keeper Kinsky. Missed a close-range header early in the second half and struggled to make an impact.
SUBS
Gabriel Martinelli (for Sterling, 61) – 5
Struggled to adapt to the game with limited contributions apart from one notable run and a blocked shot.
Kieran Tierney (for Trossard, 77) – 6
Substituted to bolster defense and succeeded in doing so.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Lewis-Skelly, 87) – 6
Added energy in the closing moments and nearly set up a scoring opportunity.
Mikel Merino (for Rice, 87) – 6
Committed a tactical foul to prevent Solanke from breaking free during stoppage time.