Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reacts to Tottenham sacking 'excellent coach' Thomas Frank | OneFootball

Spurs boss was sacked on Wednesday morning after midweek defeat

Mikel Arteta has hailed Thomas Frank as “an extraordinary man” following his sacking by Tottenham on Wednesday.

Spurs have not won a league game since the turn of the year, with their most recent top-flight victory coming against Crystal Palace on December 28.

Had Frank continued at the helm, his next fixture would have been against Arteta’s Arsenal in the north London derby in 11 days’ time.

"Obviously, very sad news when you have a colleague that doesn't continue doing his job,” Arteta replied when asked for his reaction to Frank’s sacking.

“Thomas is an excellent coach, he’s an extraordinary man as well, and he’s proven that in the league.

“We know where we are, we know our responsibility is beyond just performance. Sometimes results dictate what happens with us.

“Wish him all the very best for whatever he decides to do next.”

Asked if eight months was enough time for a manager to get his ideas across to a team, Arteta responded: “I don’t know, because you have to go into those discussions and what they agreed and how they saw the club, the evolution of the squad, or the performances they expected.

"I don’t know, I just talk about Frank. What I know as a coach because I faced him many times and how he prepares his teams. What he did at Brentford as well or the the way [Spurs] looked in pre-season when we played them. They were really impressive.

Arteta’s Arsenal take on Brentford on Thursday as they look to maintain their Premier League title lead.

The Gunners remain six points clear of Manchester City, although Pep Guardiola’s men could halve that to three if they beat Fulham on Wednesday.