Tottenham arrived in Germany still searching for consistency in domestic competition, but their European outing offered a timely boost.
The decisive moment came shortly after the interval. From an early set-piece, Cristian Romero rose above everyone to head the ball into a threatening area, where Randal Kolo Muani reacted fastest.
The French striker showed sharp awareness to turn the ball home from close range, handing Spurs a well-earned advantage.
Eintracht Frankfurt attempted to respond with greater intensity, yet Tottenham stayed organised and disciplined. The hosts were restricted to hopeful efforts, while Spurs remained dangerous on the counter-attack and continued to threaten throughout the second half.
That persistence paid off late in the contest. With less than 15 minutes to play, Dominic Solanke was brought on from the bench and wasted no time making his mark. The England forward calmly finished to seal the victory, scoring his first goal of the season and putting the result beyond doubt.
The win could be crucial for Thomas Frank, who has been facing increasing scrutiny after a difficult run of Premier League results. Progress in Europe provides much-needed relief for the Dane and reinforces belief that his project still has momentum at a key stage of the campaign.
However, despite the convincing scoreline, not every Tottenham player impressed. A number of individuals fell below their usual standards, raising questions about their long-term roles as regular starters in Frank’s system.
Spurs’ disappointing displays in Frankfurt
Guglielmo Vicario kept a clean sheet, but his performance was far from convincing. Although Frankfurt failed to find a way past him, the goalkeeper looked uneasy in possession and uncertain when dealing with aerial deliveries into the box.
The Italian completed 20 passes but failed to claim a single high ball, a recurring weakness during his time at the club. His long distribution was also unreliable, with only half of his attempts finding a teammate, once again inviting pressure and fuelling criticism from fans and pundits.
In midfield, Archie Gray endured a rare quiet night. The teenager has impressed for much of the season, but against Frankfurt he struggled to influence proceedings.
Gray did not make a single tackle and recorded just one interception, offering little defensive disruption compared to Joao Palhinha’s usual presence. He also completed only five forward passes, reflecting a lack of control and authority from his deeper role. It was an unusually muted display from a player normally praised for his composure and intelligence.
Spurs player under pressure after Frankfurt
Despite the comfortable win, Thomas Frank still faces several selection dilemmas ahead of upcoming fixtures. Injuries have severely restricted his options, as shown by the number of academy players named on the bench in Germany.
With limited depth, the manager has often been forced into certain selections, and further additions before the transfer window closes could be vital. Conor Gallagher and Souza are the only new arrivals so far, but performances like this may persuade the club hierarchy that reinforcements are still needed.
One player now under scrutiny is Djed Spence. Handed a rare start at right-back after Pedro Porro was ruled out for around a month with an injury picked up against Burnley, Spence failed to capitalise on the opportunity.
Playing the full match due to a lack of alternatives, the defender struggled against Frankfurt’s wide threats. He lost ten duels — more than any other player — and conceded three fouls while repeatedly being caught out of position.
His attacking contribution was limited as well. Spence attempted six dribbles but completed only two, while just one of his crosses reached a teammate. Even more concerning was his tendency to lose possession, surrendering the ball 20 times — the highest tally among Spurs players.
Those struggles were reflected in the post-match ratings, with Evening Standard journalist Sam Tabuteau awarding him a modest 6/10. Such statistics are unlikely to go unnoticed by Frank, particularly given the importance of the fixture.
For now, Tottenham’s lack of squad depth may shield Spence from immediate omission, but the manager will be keen to explore alternative solutions — either internally or through new signings — to prevent the right-back position from becoming a vulnerability.
Overall, though, the bigger picture remains encouraging for Spurs. The victory in Frankfurt was a significant European statement and could mark a turning point in Thomas Frank’s reign. If Tottenham can carry this momentum forward, their Champions League campaign may yet spark a much-needed revival in north London.
