Igor Tudor demands Tottenham 'become serious' after derby hammering by 'world's best' Arsenal

In his first match since replacing the sacked Thomas Frank, the new Spurs boss watched his side overpowered by the league leaders, who struck twice through Eberechi Eze and twice through Viktor Gyökeres to secure a commanding victory. Randal Kolo Muani's first-half equaliser briefly lifted the hosts after Eze's opener, but Arsenal's superiority ultimately told.

Tottenham thought they had drawn level again at 2-2 early in the second half when Kolo Muani finished smartly, only for the goal to be ruled out for a push on Gabriel. Tudor refused to criticise the decision. "Touching the players in the box, it's always about referees," he said. "They make decisions how they see it."

The defeat leaves Spurs 16th in the table, four points above the bottom three with 11 matches remaining, and still without a league win this calendar year. It was their 12th league loss of the campaign and another sobering setback in a season that has spiralled.

Tudor, however, was quick to credit the opposition. "Arsenal are now probably the best team in the world at this moment," he said. "If we were thinking today that it's a derby and we can give something more, more mentality and more motivation, the reality is that there are things you can't change in three or four training sessions. It's impossible.

"There is a big gap between the two teams, too much Arsenal for us. But it is nice to understand where we are - a game to show the reality."

The Croatian described a squad short on belief and physical sharpness, insisting survival will depend on a fundamental shift in mindset. "Without the ball, a lack of confidence is very evident," he said. "Even with the ball, a lack of confidence is very evident in the team.

"I believe these are good players with bad habits. Nobody can tell me we don't have quality. But we need to change a mental switch and have this mental sharpness to be in the game from the first minutes and also the physicality to do this.

"To be physical, you need to work hard, otherwise it's a problem. Too many players had problems. That's the result."

Tudor said the derby served as a harsh but necessary wake-up call. "I know the truth about this team, now I saw the truth. It's not nice, but it is how it is," he added. "I'm very sad, angry, I am everything, but in one way it is also good to understand what is the goal of this club.

"To become serious. Serious, not just a group of 20 players. The medicine is to look in the mirror. Each of us must look in the mirror and really try to change the habits."

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