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Tottenham told two of their players are actually ‘liabilities’ for Ange Postecoglou after 2-1 loss vs Arsenal

Srinivas Sadhanand

Thu 16 January 2025 15:15, UK

After Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, debates are likely to stir about whether Spurs should persist with Ange Postecoglou at the helm or look to make a prompt change.

TBR Football understands Daniel Levy is still backing Ange Postecoglou, despite being trigger-happy when sacking previous m𝓀anagers such as Jose Mourinho, Nuno♊ Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.

Postecoglou was gutted afte🐲r To💎ttenham lost to Arsenal and 🐲felt a club of the Lilywhites’ stature cannot afford to be losing 11 out of their 21 Premier League games.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
13	TottenhamTottenham	21	7	3	11	43	32	11	24

The Tottenham hierarchy will be in agreement with the former Celtic boss as they are truly having a nightmarish ꦚleague campaign.

The manner in which Arsenal won should concern the Spurs dressing room as well — with Decla🌳n Rice point🌱ing out Tottenham’s defensive frailities during his post-match interview.

Despite Ange Postecoglou’s tactical decisiꦬons often called under question throughout his time in the Premier League, he took the bold decision of playing with no natural holding midfꦦielder in the second half.

Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr criticised after Arsenal vs Tottenham

Postecoglou substituted both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr and brought on James Maddison and Brennan Johnson. Lucas Bergvall, who was hailed by Rice was de🔜ployed in an unf🍸amiliar role as a number six at the Emirates Stadium.

Craig Burley felt Ange Postecoglou had no choice but to take both Bissouma and Sarr off against Arsenal, who he feels have become “liabilities”🉐🉐 for the Tottenham boss.

The former Brighton technician carelessly losing the ball in the build-up to Leandro Trossard’s goal and the 22-year-old having picked up a needless yellow card for kicking the ball away to delay the restart after a free-kick was awaꦑrded.

The pundit said via ESPN FC: “He takes off [Pape Matar] Sarr and [Yves] Bissouma who have fast become liabilities for this manager and this club. Bissouma with his performances and his discipline and Sarr🐷 with his discipline and his indiscipline, got a booking for, I think kicking the ball away and he’s always prone to a challenge, a rash challenge.”

“As soon as he got booked for that, I sa🌠id to you guys, he’ll put his foot somewhere and that kind of forced the manager to taking them two off.”

Craig Burley concluded: “He takes them off because B🐼issouma’s having one basically and Sarr’s probably not going to see the game out. I’ve seen them make rash challenges before, he’s on a stupid yellow for kicking the ball away and he’s a guy who dives into challenges.”

Tottenham could sell Bissouma, as the༺y have been linked with a move for Quinten Timber.

Ange Postecoglou rates Sarr highly and it is important to remember that his powerful run ultim🧔ately led to Sp𝐆urs winning the corner that ultimately led to Heung-min Son’s opening goal.

Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr stats in Arsenal vs Tottenham

꧃The midfield pair would have been disappointed after 🐓Ange Postecoglou decided to hook them off at half-time.

However, the statistics make 🤪for grim reading for both Sarr and Bissouma, starting with the former.

The fact that Sarr lost seven out of his eight duels while being dispossessed twice despite only having 15 touches ofℱ the ball might justify why Postecoglou felt it was time for him to come off the pitch.

Sarr has impressed at Tottenham for the most part but in a North London Derby, standards have t🍒o be raised by every player on the pitch.

As for Bissouma, it remains alarming that such an experienced player ꩵcould be as unconcentrated as he was in the lead-up to Trossard’s strike — as the statistics suggꩲest how disappointing the Malian was.

Like Sarr, Bissouma has been praised at Spurs too but unless he steps up his game, it would be n𒀰o surprise if either one of Bergvall or Archie Gray usurp him as Ange Postecoglou’s go-to number six.

As for the former, he too will ne🍷ed to up his game as things look f﷽ar from rosy for Spurs.