Tottenham are in talks to appoint Thomas Frank as their new head coach following the decision to relieve Ange Postecoglou of his duties. The Dane has been at Brentford since 2018 and would become Arsenal’s new North London rival coach should he successfully get the role.
Frank and Mikel Arteta have shared the Premier League stage for around five years. Arsenal watched on as their bitter opponents lifted silverware for the first time in 17 years after they won the Europa League, but it was not enough to keep Postecoglou in a job despite claims about a third season.
With a new Tottenham manager comes a fourth iteration of this north London rivalry. Frank would follow in the footsteps of the Australian, Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho who all faced Arteta during their time as Spurs boss.
Since Brentford’s first season in the Premier League, Frank has been somewhat of a thorn in the side of Arteta. He famously beat a Covid-19-struck Arsenal side 2-0 in the opening match of their first campaign in the Premier League.
The record since then, however, stands heavily in the Gunners’ favour – despite some painful moments, including the 1-1 draw in February of 2023, which hit Arsenal’s title hopes hard. Outside of this, though, it stands at six wins, two draws and one defeat in favour of Arteta.
With a new coach comes new transfer targets and ideas about how a team should be built. Frank, who would have the gift of UEFA Champions League qualification after the Europa League victory of his predecessor, can use the elite level of European football to compete with the Gunners for targets.
One name mentioned in the same sphere has been Leroy Sane, with both Arsenal and Tottenham suggested to hold an interest in the player. That said, it might be that after an appointment that Frank chooses other targets and rivals the Gunners for other profiles.
Where Postecoglou was known for his tactical differences to most coaches around for better and sadly for worse too which proved to be his downfall in the end, Frank is different. Speaking to some experts, Frank is considered more of a man manager than a tactical expert.
It would be a different approach therefore for Spurs and subsequently when Arteta comes up against him. Whether he adopts a similar transitional style he used at Brentford or uses the players at his disposal different is something which the Spaniard will need to analyse and work out when the time comes.
