As Tottenham Hotspur faced another defeat against North London rivals Arsenal, former midfielder Jamie O’Hara criticized one player for a “frustrating” performance before his substitution.
Tottenham’s derby defeat
Despite missing key players such as Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Ricardo Calafiori, and Mikel Merino, Tottenham Hotspur had a prime opportunity to gain an advantage over Arsenal in the North London derby. However, as in the previous season, Spurs ended up losing again.
In this narrow defeat, Gabriel Magalhaes scored midway through the second half, outmuscling Cristian Romero to head in a decisive goal.
The loss means Spurs have now suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats, continuing their disappointing form post-international break. Ange Postecoglou now faces the challenge of revitalizing his team.
One immediate concern for Postecoglou could be replacing Brennan Johnson, as suggested by O’Hara. The talkSPORT pundit criticized the winger on X, stating: “Brennan Johnson is even more frustrating to watch in person than on TV.”
O’Hara’s frustration is evident, given Johnson’s lackluster performance where he lost five out of six duels and had only 25 touches before being substituted. With Wilson Odobert showing promise, Johnson’s place in the team could be at risk.
Johnson’s future at Tottenham
After arriving for £48 million last summer, Johnson had a promising debut season but is now starting to frustrate fans and pundits alike. At just 23 years old, there is still hope for him, especially considering his previous season’s stats of five goals and 10 assists.
However, Odobert’s emergence could threaten Johnson’s position, particularly after his underwhelming second-half performance against Arsenal. Johnson had ample opportunities to impact the game but ultimately became a source of frustration.
Looking ahead, Spurs will focus on the Carabao Cup clash against Coventry City, the Europa League match against Ferencvaros, and a Premier League challenge against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Another loss to Brighton would only increase the pressure on Postecoglou, who is struggling in his second season as Tottenham’s manager.
