Thomas Frank focuses on a sustainable Tottenham project, aiming for consistent high-level performance. Key players like Bowen and Simons are spotlighted ahead of the West Ham derby. Predictions favor a Tottenham win, highlighting Frank’s ambition to match historic managerial achievements.
Thomas Frank is charting a course for sustained success at Tottenham Hotspur, emphasizing a long-term vision over immediate gratification. As the team gears up for a highly anticipated London derby against West Ham United this Saturday, Frank's focus remains steadfast: constructing a robust and enduring foundation for the club's future.
The Spurs are eager to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth in their previous Premier League encounter. The recent weeks have been a whirlwind of activity for the North London club, highlighted by the loan acquisition of Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain on the transfer deadline day. Adding to the sense of change, the departure of long-standing chairman Daniel Levy was announced last week, marking the end of an era.
Despite the shifting landscape, Frank remains resolute in his mission to revitalize Tottenham. Tasked with rebuilding the squad following their all-time lowest Premier League finish last season, the manager is instilling a philosophy centered on consistent performance and sustainable growth.
"Success this season is building something that is sustainable and strong," Frank declared. "I want us to consistently perform at our highest level each and every game. If we can do that, we will win enough games to get us into a place where we want to be, so that’s the aim."
Frank acknowledges the fierce competitiveness of the Premier League, stating, "I have been in the Premier League for four years now, it is so competitive and relentless. Every team, player and manager is so good you have to be on it every time you step on the pitch."
Like Tottenham, West Ham United are also navigating a period of transition. After a rocky start to the campaign, marked by conceding eight goals in just two matches, Graham Potter's side showcased their resilience with an impressive 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest prior to the international break. The Hammers demonstrated their attacking prowess with three late goals at the City Ground, signaling a potential turning point in their season.
On deadline day, West Ham bolstered their squad with the addition of Brighton defender Igor Julio on a season-long loan. They also welcomed back familiar face Lukasz Fabianski, who rejoined the club after his departure at the end of last season. "This is a nice surprise for me, if I’m honest, because everything happened so quick. I found out about the whole situation just at the end of last week," Fabianski said, expressing his delight at returning to the club.
Players to Watch:
West Ham – Jarrod Bowen
Jarrod Bowen has been a pivotal figure for West Ham, directly contributing to nine Premier League goals in his last nine appearances. His prolific form includes six goals and three assists, highlighting his importance to the team's attacking efforts. Since Potter took charge in early February, Bowen's combined goal and assist tally ranks second only to Mohamed Salah, with nine goals and four assists.
Tottenham – Xavi Simons
Xavi Simons, the dynamic midfielder, completed his move from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £51.8m during the latter stages of the transfer window. The Dutch international boasts an impressive record of 36 goal involvements (18 goals and 18 assists) in 58 Bundesliga games. With Tottenham seeking to reignite their creative spark following their defeat against Bournemouth, Simons could be the catalyst to get the team firing on all cylinders once again. Here's a Tweet from Tottenham's official twitter account showcasing Xavi:
Xavi training pics just dropped pic.twitter.com/9oVN8P4QAk
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 10, 2025
Match Prediction: Tottenham Win
West Ham's recent record against Tottenham is less than stellar, with only one win in their last seven Premier League encounters. The last three league matches between the sides at the London Stadium have ended in 1-1 draws, and Tottenham have not secured a win in their past five visits since a 3-2 victory in November 2019.
Frank is aiming to join Ossie Ardiles (1993-94) and Tim Sherwood (2013-14) as the only Tottenham managers to win their first two away top-flight games. Meanwhile, West Ham's attacking output has improved under Potter, with the team registering eight shots on target in their 3-0 win over Forest – their highest total in a single game since his appointment.
Opta Win Probability:
- West Ham – 32.7%
- Draw – 25.5%
- Tottenham – 41.8%