Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has been forced to address an embarrassing public relations blunder after he was pictured drinking from an Arsenal-branded cup before his side's latest Premier League defeat.
North London Rivalry Slip-Up Before Vitality Stadium Defeat
The bizarre incident occurred ahead of Tottenham's clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on January 7, 2026. Images quickly circulated on social media showing Frank sipping from a cup prominently displaying the badge of Spurs' fiercest rivals, Arsenal.
This gaffe proved to be an ill omen for the under-pressure manager, whose team went on to suffer a dramatic 3-2 defeat, conceding a winner deep into injury time. The result leaves Tottenham languishing in 13th place in the Premier League table, a staggering 21 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Late Semenyo Winner Compounds Tottenham Misery
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Mathys Tel gave Spurs a dream start, putting them ahead within the first five minutes. After Bournemouth hit back through Evanilson and Eli Junior Kroupi, midfielder Joao Palhinha thought he had secured a valuable point for the visitors.
However, Antoine Semenyo, playing his final game for the Cherries before a January transfer to Manchester City, had the final say. His last-gasp strike secured all three points for Bournemouth and piled further misery on Frank and his squad.
Frank's Frustrated Reaction to Cup Incident and Defeat
In his post-match comments, a visibly hurt Frank described the loss as "extremely painful" and "very, very hard to take." He praised his players' effort and mentality but lamented the cruel nature of the late concession.
When questioned about the Arsenal cup, Frank was adamant it was an innocent mistake. "I definitely did not notice it," he stated. "It would be completely stupid of me to take it if I knew... I would never do something that stupid."
He expressed frustration that the focus had shifted to the cup, arguing, "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."
The defeat marks Tottenham's eighth league loss of the season, intensifying speculation about Frank's future. Having replaced Ange Postecoglou in the summer, the Danish manager is now fighting to save his job amid a deeply disappointing campaign.
