Thomas Frank explains Arsenal cup mix up

• Thomas Frank said he did not realise an Arsenal branded cup was in his hands before Tottenham’s match at Bournemouth
• The Spurs head coach called it “really stupid” to think he would choose it on purpose
• Tottenham lost 3-2 late on and Frank said the result was “extremely painful”

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank said he did not notice he was drinking from a cup bearing Arsenal’s logo before Spurs faced Bournemouth, adding it would have been “absolutely stupid” for him to do so.

Frank was photographed holding the cup ahead of Wednesday’s match at the Vitality Stadium, with the image spreading quickly on social media.

Asked about it after the game, Frank said: “It’s fair to say that not winning every single football match, it would be absolutely stupid of me to take a cup with Arsenal on it. Anyone thinking I’ve done that or the staff has done it …

“They’ve been in the changing room the game before us [on Saturday]. It’s normal to say ‘give me a cup of espresso’ before every game.

“I think it’s a little bit sad in football that I need to be asked a question like that. We are definitely going in the wrong direction if we are worrying about me having a cup of another club. Of course I wouldn’t do that. That would be really stupid.”

Arsenal had been the previous visitors to Bournemouth and won at the weekend, which only sharpened the focus on the photo.

Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth, sealed by a late Antoine Semenyo goal, left Frank facing fresh scrutiny with Spurs having won one of their last five Premier League matches and sitting 14th.

Reflecting on the result, Frank said: “I think it’s fair to say everyone involved in Tottenham, it’s a tough one to take today. Hopefully everyone can see how hard we worked to get everything in the right direction.

“Overall the performance was good, especially 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 – that’s natural.

“It’s very tough to sit here right now and we haven’t got anything out of overall a good performance.”