Ian Wright Pinpoints Worrying Sign for Spurs in Relegation Battle: 'That Don't Look Good!'
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has expressed serious concerns about Tottenham Hotspur's mentality in their ongoing Premier League relegation fight, suggesting players may have already "checked out" mentally after observing a specific incident during last weekend's north London derby.
Derby Defeat Highlights Tottenham's Struggles
The Gunners secured a dominant 4-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, re-establishing their five-point lead at the Premier League summit while leaving their local rivals mired in relegation trouble. Tottenham now sit just four points above the drop zone, with a three-way battle likely developing between Spurs, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham United to avoid 18th place.
While Leeds United aren't completely safe either, they currently hold a two-point advantage and sit one position above Tottenham in the table. The defeat to league-leading Arsenal was perhaps expected, but Wright identified a particular moment that he believes reveals deeper problems within the Spurs squad.
Viral Clip Shows Concerning Interaction
A video clip that circulated widely on social media showed newly appointed interim manager Igor Tudor instructing center-back Micky van de Ven to push forward during the match. The Dutch defender appeared to completely ignore his manager's instructions, with Tudor eventually giving up on the exchange.
Wright analyzed this interaction on The Overlap podcast, stating: "Against Arsenal I saw Igor Tudor trying to speak to Van de Ven and he blanked him, totally blanked him. That says to me they've checked out already. He's blanked him! This guy's new, he wants him to come up, looking at Van de Ven and he just stayed there. That don't look good!"
Mixed Reactions from Football Pundits
Roy Keane, who appeared alongside Wright on The Overlap, offered a more measured perspective, describing Wright's "checked out" assessment as "harsh." The former Manchester United captain acknowledged Tottenham's difficult position but maintained some optimism about their survival chances.
"It was a tough start for him, Arsenal," Keane said of Tudor's first game in charge. "I still think they'll be ok, but I'm not falling for this one, 'they're too good to go down,' no. But the games they've got coming up, I think they'll find a bit more than Forest and West Ham."
Keane continued: "West Ham have got a little bit of momentum going and big game coming up this weekend, Forest was a killer blow, last minute [defeat] to Liverpool. These are all little momentum-turners, they can change week-to-week. I still think Tottenham will have enough to stay up."
Former Spurs Player Backs Survival Chances
Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy has also expressed confidence in the team's ability to avoid relegation, telling BBC Sport: "I would be really surprised if they weren't able to fight their way out of it. The games coming up are all huge. I think they will have just enough."
Murphy added: "The fact we are mentioning Spurs going down is unbelievable. It's absolutely ridiculous really. Whether you blame recruitment or the owners, it would be catastrophic for that club. I have heard some fans suggest going down could be the best thing. I just don't see that."
Manager Maintains Confidence Despite Challenges
Interim manager Igor Tudor himself remains optimistic about Tottenham's prospects, telling Sky Sports: "Of course I am confident because I believe these are good players with bad habits. It's all about that. They are good. Nobody can tell me they do not have quality. But we need to change our mental sharpness. To be in the game from the first minute, and to have the physicality to do this."
Despite their domestic struggles, Tottenham remain in the Champions League competition and will discover their last-16 opponents this Friday, adding another layer of complexity to their challenging season.
