Thomas Frank: Anything can happy in Arsenal, Tottenham encounter

Thomas Frank: Anything can happy in Arsenal, Tottenham encounter

The fixture has long been one of the Premier League's most chaotic and entertaining encounters, and Frank expects nothing less this weekend.

Tottenham's recent record in the derby offers little encouragement. Despite the rivalry's intensity, Spurs have struggled badly at the Emirates Stadium, securing just one Premier League victory there since the ground opened 19 years ago.

With that history hanging over them, they make the short trip across north London seeking only a second triumph on Arsenal's turf.

Frank, who earned a point at the Emirates last season during his time at Brentford, believes he has unfinished business in this particular fixture.

His first Premier League match back in 2021 ended in a 2-0 victory, a game notable for featuring both David Raya and Christian Norgaard in his starting XI - players who now work under Mikel Arteta after being signed by Arsenal.

Frank jokingly referred to the pair as "two traitors" as he spoke ahead of the derby, adding further spice to an already heated occasion.

"Two of them are now traitors and moved to the wrong club!" Frank joked.

"The interesting thing is that probably both Mikel and I would like a little bit more control, but it will probably be a madhouse and very, very enjoyable to watch for the outside people or fans.

"I expect a difficult game of course, but a game that can go anywhere and anything can happen in games like that. Everything also evens out a little bit more because it's so competitive and the atmosphere in the stadium.

"Definitely embrace controlled chaos or chaos we like to create if that makes sense, because chaos can also be good. It can be too disruptive, or too fixed and too stop-start, so we need a bit of chaos.

"And chaos can be transitions, high-pressure and set-piece second phases and all them areas are of course areas we would like to exploit if we can.

"We will never go for a 0-0. It maybe will end 0-0 but we will always try to win. Always, always, always."
 

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