Spurs news: Thomas Frank explains major Arsenal cup blunder after Bournemouth defeat

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Evening Standard

·7 January 2026

Spurs news: Thomas Frank explains major Arsenal cup blunder after Bournemouth defeat

Awkward incident has done little for under-fire coach’s worsening relationship with frustrated Tottenham fans

Thomas Frank has said that it is “sad” that he even needs to address pictures of him sipping from an Arsenal-branded cup before Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth.

Before kick-off, Frank was caught pitchside at the Vitality Stadium in a now viral picture holding a coffee cup bearing an Arsenal logo.

The image sparked mass hysteria when it emerged online during the game, but Frank said that he did not notice what was on the cup before adding that football was “heading in the wrong direction” if he was being asked to explain why he had mistakenly drunk from a cup with another team’s logo on it.

"Definitely not noticed it. I think it's fair to say that we're not winning every single football match so it would be absolutely, completely stupid of me to take a cup with Arsenal. Is there anyone thinking I've done that? All the staff has done it,” Frank said in his post-match press conference.

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The offending cup

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"They've been in the changing room, the game before us. Its normal to take a cup, give me an espresso, I do that before every game. I think actually it's a little bit sad in football that I need to be asked a question about that.

"I think we're definitely going in the wrong direction if we need to worry about me having a cup with another logo of another club, of course I'll never do that. That's extremely stupid.”

Spurs were beaten in stoppage time as Antoine Semenyo scored to seal a fairytale farewell on what looks set to be his final Bournemouth appearance.

After the full-time whistle, Micky van de Ven approached the away end and pointed at a section of supporters, while Pedro Porro had to be led away by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Frank admitted he had not seen the incident and said it was only natural for supporters and players to be frustrated after a difficult result.

“I haven't seen that situation, that's one thing. I think it's fair to say everyone involved in Tottenham, players, staff, fans, everyone is a tough one to take today.

“I think hopefully everyone can see how hard we worked to get everything in the right direction. And I think overall the performance was good, especially in the second half, in a game where we deserved to get more. That is extremely painful to be part of, so of course people are frustrated, I'm frustrated, so that's natural.”