Spurs are still struggling for consistency under the Australian, and a defeat to the Gunners could see serious questions raised over his position
"Usually in my second season I win things. That's the whole idea," Ange Postecoglou said in an interview with before Tottenham's opening game of the season against Leicester City. "First year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully the second year is going onto win things."
Spurs haven't lifted any silverware since their League Cup triumph 16 years ago, but some supporters would have bought into Postecoglou's words, because he has the CV to back it up. The 59-year-old has won 10 trophies in his management career to date, including two league crowns at Celtic and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup – the first major title in Australia's history.
Postecoglou's first season at Tottenham was also very encouraging, despite their failure to pip Aston Villa to the final Champions League spot. He brought an entertaining brand of football back after the dour Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho regimes, while also countering the huge loss of Harry Kane with a series of clever signings.
The platform for future success was indeed laid, but just three games into the 2024-25 campaign, worrying cracks have started to appear. Spurs could only manage a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Leicester at the King Power Stadium, and although a subsequent 4-0 rout of Everton briefly lifted the mood, an away defeat at Newcastle brought Postecoglou crashing back down to earth just before the international break.
Next up: Arsenal at home. The North London Derby is always a highly charged affair, but Tottenham are now in a position where another loss will do real damage to their top-four ambitions, even with the season still in its infancy. Postecoglou has to get a result, or all the good will he's built up could go flying out the window – and notoriously trigger-happy co-chairman Daniel Levy may start getting an itchy finger.
Getty Images SportMental fragility remains
The most frustrating element of Tottenham's slow start is that they played very well against both Leicester and Newcastle. Spurs had 71 percent of the ball at the King Power and 15 shots, while they also bossed possession at St James Park and managed 20 attempts at goal to the nine of Newcastle – who scored from two of their three shots on target.
Postecoglou's side don't have any problem creating chances, but they're not converting nearly enough of them. "We needed to kill the game off and we didn't – the game should have been over by then," the Spurs boss said after the Newcastle defeat. "We've not got the results from our performances, but ultimately it's three strong performances."
Another "strong performance" against Arsenal will mean little if Tottenham don't get three points, though. 'Angeball' is still very easy on the eye, but the Australian is no closer to getting rid of the 'Spursy' tag that has stuck for nigh on two decades than any of his predecessors.
There is a weak mentality running through the squad that continues to prevent Tottenham from advancing to the next level. Postecoglou has to find a way to turn this group into winners, which may mean tweaking his style of play, or else he could soon find himself on borrowed time.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTarget on his back
To his credit, Postecoglou is trying to change the culture of mediocrity at the club. According to , one member of the former Celtic manager's support staff joked that he should have played the reserves when Spurs hosted Manchester City in May, which left him furious.
There was a very mixed reaction from the home fans when Son Heung-min missed a glorious late opportunity to earn Tottenham a point in that game, which would have put Arsenal on the brink of Premier League title glory, and after City eventually ran out 2-0 winners, Postecoglou vented his frustration in front of the media.
"The foundations are really fragile," the Australian said. "The last 48 hours have shown me that. It's inside the club, outside the club. Outside, inside, everywhere. It's been an interesting exercise. It's just my observations."
When pressed on the 'Are you watching Arsenal?' chants that rang around the stadium after Erling Haaland scored the first of his two goals in the 51st minute, Postecoglou added: "I'm not interested, mate. Maybe I'm out of step, but I just don't care, I just want to win. I want to be successful at this football club, it's why I was brought in. So what other people, how they want to feel, and what their priorities are, are of zero interest to me. I know what's important to build a winning team – that's what I need to concentrate on."
Postecoglou was spot on with his assessment, but saying he doesn't care about what the fans feel put a target on his back. And while that winning team still eludes him, Postecoglou will be open to fierce vitriol from those who took offence to his harsh honesty.
Getty Images SportReckless defensive approach
Indeed, there was a small section of fans calling for Tottenham to sack Postecoglou after the Newcastle loss. That is, of course, a ridiculous suggestion at this early stage of the new campaign, but there was also some constructive criticism that Postecoglou really should be taking on board.
An X user named @GEORGIE_35 said: "What about the defensive side of our game Ange? You can't keep expecting to score three or four to win games, that just won't happen. As good as City are, they don't do it with all their talent. Sometimes you have to dig in and tough it out, not keep throwing men forward to get caught out."
Meanwhile, @PhillyHotspur wrote: "Ange ball is diabolical. One-one game and you're working the high line in the 70th minute? Spurs got what they deserved in the end."
Postecoglou's insistence on playing an ultra-high line has certainly made Tottenham more susceptible to incisive through balls against sides with pacey attackers. It's one of the main reasons Spurs conceded 61 goals in the Premier League last season – just two fewer than City and Arsenal combined.
"It is just who we are mate, it is who we are and who we will be for as long as I am here," Postecoglou famously said after a 4-1 home loss to Chelsea that saw his team play the final 30 minutes with nine men.
It's a reckless defensive approach that stretches first-choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Mickey van de Ven to their limits. Both men are forced to cover too much space as Postecoglou asks his full-backs to push into central midfield and join in attacks. One of them should join Romero and Van de Ven to form a back three in possession so Spurs are not so open, which is how City and Arsenal usually set up, but Postecoglou is too stubborn to shift away even slightly from his gung-ho philosophy.
Getty ImagesArsenal can be overpowered
Arsenal exploited Spurs' defensive weaknesses the last time they met at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, racing into a three-goal lead before the interval. The hosts had more of the ball throughout and did fight back admirably in the second half, but could have no complaints about the eventual 3-2 defeat because of their naivety.
If they play the same way on Sunday, history could repeat itself, particularly as Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard all head into the game in scintillating form. But there is also a chance that Tottenham could overpower their neighbours this time around, because Mikel Arteta is dealing with a major selection headache in midfield.
Declan Rice is suspended after his controversial red card in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton, Martin Odegaard is set to miss the game due to an ankle injury he picked up on international duty with Norway, and summer signing Mikel Merino won't be available until October after fracturing his shoulder in his first training session with the club.
If Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr can dominate in midfield and release James Maddison and Son in dangerous areas, it could be a long afternoon for the Gunners. That's certainly what Postecoglou will be banking on.
But there is a flip side to the coin. Unlike Spurs, Arteta's team are clinical enough to steal the points without playing well. Tottenham won't get anything if they're as wasteful in front of goal as they were against Leicester and Newcastle.