Both Tottenham head coach Igor Tudor and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appeared to fall foul of PGMOL rules during the North London derby, yet only one of them faced a warning.
Spurs entered Sunday’s encounter under pressure, sitting just four points clear of the relegation zone. Arsenal took the lead through former Tottenham target Eberechi Eze, but Randal Kolo Muani responded swiftly to draw the hosts level. Shortly after the interval, Viktor Gyokeres restored Arsenal’s advantage, and Eze added his second to widen the gap.
During the match, journalist Alasdair Gold observed that both managers repeatedly stepped outside their designated technical areas — a breach of league regulations. However, only Tudor was cautioned by the fourth official, while Arteta went without reprimand.
Arteta has often been seen straying beyond his technical area during games, but sanctions have been rare. Tudor being warned in his first match in charge, while Arteta was not addressed, has sparked fresh debate about inconsistency in officiating.
Gold wrote on X that Tudor was admonished for leaving his technical area, while Arteta was doing the same on the opposite touchline.
Tottenham’s poor run of form continued with the defeat, their fifth loss in seven league outings. They now sit 16th in the table, just two points above 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, with West Ham a further two points behind in 18th.
The result strengthened Arsenal’s push for the title, while Spurs must now prepare for a vital away trip to Fulham next Sunday before hosting Crystal Palace four days later. Failure to secure positive results could pull them deeper into the relegation battle.
Gyokeres’ stoppage-time strike sealed a 4–1 victory for Arsenal, matching the scoreline from the reverse fixture earlier this season. As Arsenal chase their first league title since 2004, Tottenham’s campaign has continued to unravel.
After ending a 17-year wait for silverware by lifting the Europa League last term, Spurs have since parted ways with Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank, leaving Tudor with the responsibility of guiding the team through the remainder of the season.
Although Tottenham remain narrowly above the bottom three, their recent performances offer little encouragement. Meanwhile, West Ham have recorded three wins and two draws in their last six matches. Unless Spurs improve quickly, the threat of relegation could soon become a serious concern.
