Arsenal are set to face several impacts of Tottenham Hotspur's decision to sack their head coach Thomas Frank ahead of the North London Derby
10:22, 11 Feb 2026
Thomas Frank has been sacked ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's clash with Arsenal
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Tottenham Hotspur's Danish head coach Thomas Frank (L) shakes hands with Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 23, 2025. Arsenal won the match 4-1. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Image: Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images)
Thomas Frank has been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur after the defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday night. Arsenal are due to face their North London rivals on February 22 and despite the Dane saying publicly he believed he would be in his post for the bitter clash, it has taken less than 24 hours for that to be proven wrong.
Frank arrived in the summer after Spurs sacked Ange Postecoglou at the end of the previous campaign following the victory in the Europa League final. The Gunners put four past Frank’s Spurs at the Emirates earlier in the season and now will face a different head coach, or interim, in 11 days’ time.
There are always impacts from a managerial change and this will come as a surprise and perhaps something of a concern for the Gunners. With that in mind, football.london takes a look at three things we believe will “definitely” happen as a result of this major development.
New manager bounce
The infamous new manager bounce is never a guarantee but what is for certain is that this is a phrase that will dominate the next week-plus heading into the derby. Arsenal have already played a West Ham team who had replaced Graham Potter with Nuno Espirito Santo just eight days following the decision.
Arsenal won the game 2-0 courtesy of goals from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. They also faced the side that had sacked Nuno, Nottingham Forest, and replaced him with Postecoglou – putting three past Forest in his first game in charge.
Three game boost
Tottenham’s new coach, or at least the interim coach who takes charge of the derby will have a big benefit of the number of days between Spurs’ last game and facing Arsenal. 12 days separate the defeat to Newcastle and the derby, while the Gunners play three games in this period.
Out of the FA Cup, eliminated by Aston Villa in the third round, Arsenal face Brentford on Thursday, Wigan Athletic at the Emirates on Sunday and then travel to Wolves on Wednesday for a rearranged game due to their participation in the Carabao Cup final. Arteta will have to consider his side and rotation throughout, while at Spurs, recovery and preparation will be high priority for whoever is taking charge of the sessions.
St Totteringham’s Day for the new man
Arsenal will be watching on with some interest, despite their own and far bigger priorities, at their rivals fighting down the other end of the table. St Totteringham’s Day will come this season with currently 27 points between the two sides, which could become 30 if Arsenal win the derby.
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Whoever takes the reins of the club will experience the day which has become folklore among both sets of fans, whether Spurs like it or not. What is sure is they will be doing all they can to try and cause Arsenal to stumble as they fight for the title.