Thomas Frank found himself at the centre of attention on Wednesday after being photographed carrying a coffee cup bearing Arsenal’s badge shortly before Tottenham’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
The Danish head coach risked provoking Spurs supporters when he emerged from the tunnel at the Vitality Stadium holding an espresso cup displaying the crest of Tottenham’s fiercest rivals just moments before kick-off. The image, which has since gone viral on social media, shows Frank smiling broadly and making no effort to conceal the cup.
It is believed the cup was left behind in the away dressing room by a member of Arsenal’s travelling party during last weekend’s visit to Bournemouth, either accidentally or as a tongue-in-cheek gesture, with Tottenham due to play at the same venue days later.
Arsenal had extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points on Saturday with a 3–2 victory over Bournemouth, thanks to goals from Declan Rice (two) and Gabriel Magalhães.
Frank reportedly shared the cup with his coaching staff ahead of the match, seemingly seeing the humour in the situation.
After the game, though, he suggested he had no idea there was an Arsenal crest on the cup.
He said: ‘Definitely, I have 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 (on it). Is there anyone thinking I’ve done that? All the staff has done it.
‘They’ve been in the changing room, the game before us. It’s 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.’
Tottenham have been on a disappointing run of late in the Premier League, having won just once in their last five games prior to Wednesday’s clash with the Cherries.
