Arsenal v Tottenham preview
One of English football’s oldest and fiercest rivalries will play out in the Far East tomorrow as Arsenal and Tottenham meet in Hong Kong.
It may only be a pre-season friendly but neither side will want to lose to their North London neighbour and it should be an intense occasion at the Kai Tak Stadium.
The pre-match compliments have been flowing both ways with new Spurs boss Thomas Frank describing Arsenal as “one of the best teams in the world”.
The Dane added: “In that way it’s going to be a big test, but it’s more than a test as against Arsenal it’s not only a friendly. Of course it’s a game we will do everything we can to win.”
Frank has not had much time to implement his ideas after succeeding Ange Postecoglou at Spurs but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is intrigued to see how the former Brentford manager will fare.
He said: “I respect Thomas Frank immensely. And with him and Spurs I think tomorrow we’re going to start to see the direction that he’s going to take with the team, implementing his vision, his philosophy, and of course we need to be focused on what we want to do, what we want to achieve, and I’m sure it’s going to be a great game.”
Arsenal have won their two previous pre-season games in the Far East, against AC Milan and Newcastle, and Arteta is excited to face off against Spurs on foreign soil.
He added: “[I think] it’s a great idea to bring football tradition, a rivalry, but at the same time to do it in a completely different country. I think it’s brilliant.
“I think it’s an opportunity for everybody to feel that and for us as well because for our preparation it increases the competition level again and it’s a different challenge to the game and they’re going to be so lucky to play in this incredible stadium with 50,000 people who I’m sure are going to be super loud and passionate.”
Arsenal v Tottenham team news
Arsenal will decide tonight whether striker Viktor Gyokeres will be handed his debut.
Gabriel Jesus remains sidelined while it is unlikely Riccardo Calafiori will be risked after sustaining a muscle injury against Newcastle.
Max Dowman, 15, will again start on the bench.
Noni Madueke joined for an initial £48m from Chelsea earlier in July but is not involved because the England forward is being allowed extra rest time following his involvement in the 2025 Club World Cup.
Tottenham playmaker James Maddison is back in full training after suffering a knee injury towards the end of last season and could line-up alongside Dominic Solanke, who missed last weekend’s games against Wycombe and Reading as a precaution.
Destiny Udogie, Kota Takai, Manor Solomon, Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski and Bryan Gil have not travelled to the Far East due to injuries.
Arsenal v Tottenham expected line-ups
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Tottenham: Vicaro; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Bergvall; Johnson, Kudus, Son; Solanke
How to watch Arsenal v Tottenham: TV and online streams
Arsenal versus Tottenham starts at 12:30 BST (07:30 ET / 04:30 PT) on Thursday. It is not being shown on UK TV but can be streamed via both clubs’ in-house channels.
The live action is on Arsenal.com and Arsenal’s official app, starting an hour before kick-off and costing £4.99 before 09:00 BST on matchday or £6.99 afterwards.
A Pre-Season Pass providing access to the stream and live coverage of subsequent matches against Athletic Club and Villarreal is £14.99.
Tottenham’s SpursPlay costs £45 for a season. Coverage of this game will begin on the channel 30 minutes from kick-off.
Stats for Arsenal v Tottenham
Arsenal won both games between the sides last season, 2-1 at the Emirates and 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Spurs have won just one of the last nine games against Arsenal, in May 2022
Prediction for Arsenal v Tottenham
Arsenal seem a little further along in their preparation with Spurs’ two teams looking pretty unimpressive in last weekend’s games.
If Gyokeres does make his debut, that should give Arsenal the added edge required.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham
