The first North London derby to take place outside the United Kingdom has finally arrived, and Mikel Arteta has now confirmed his team selection ahead of the highly anticipated fixture.
Both clubs share one of the fiercest rivalries in English football, and despite this being a pre-season encounter, the contest is expected to be competitive and closely contested. With both teams undergoing significant developments this summer, this match in Hong Kong presents an opportunity to test new players and tactical approaches in a high-stakes setting.
Arsenal and Tottenham ready for new season challenges
Tottenham have appointed a new manager and continue to refine their identity, while Arsenal have bolstered their squad with several promising new additions. Among the standout arrivals for Spurs is Mohamed Kudus, and the club is believed to be targeting further reinforcements before the season commences.
Thomas Frank, who now leads Spurs, previously caused problems for Arsenal during his time at Brentford, and his presence on the touchline adds another dimension to this derby. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be encouraged by their current form, having won five of their last six meetings with Tottenham and remaining unbeaten across those fixtures.
Pre-season momentum could shape the derby
Despite the friendly nature of the game, both teams are expected to treat the clash with the seriousness it deserves. Arsenal have won both of their pre-season fixtures thus far and appear to be in good physical and tactical shape ahead of the new campaign. In contrast, Tottenham have secured just one win from their three pre-season outings, despite facing less challenging opponents.
While pre-season results are not always indicative of what lies ahead, they do suggest Arsenal hold a slight advantage in terms of preparation and cohesion. Both clubs have used these early matches to rotate their squads and provide playing time to a wide group of players. However, the derby is likely to prompt a more competitive approach from both managers.
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I’m pretty sure it won’t be a particularly “friendly” friendly, but the result won’t bear any relevance to what happens when the real thing kicks off on 16 August.
Hopefully, Gyokeres will get a few minutes though.
If Gyokeres not match fit, just don’t play him. When will we ever learn from past mistakes. Arsenal has had a fair share of awful injuries, at the same time, a lot of them could have been prevented with more rigorous rotation and preserving players when they needed preserving. Playing Saka for 90 minutes in a dead rubber matches last season was good example of unnecessarily risking an injury
Is Ricky broken again?
Awful signing.
Not enjoying this game at all.
Spurs are creating all the good chances. Arsenal, as usual, over complicating things
Rayas been shocking
Dan kit
I agree, Raya looks off, and yet again caught out and gave up a goal.
Was hoping to see new tactics or new wrinkles at least. Maybe Arteta not giving anything away and keeping them secret until the season.
Even though its just a friendly the same old reliance on Saka is clear once again.
I hope things change this season otherwise its the same of shit once again…
This is what the 5th or 6th season of our attacking pattern being Odegaard to Saka, cutback, rinse repeat? I Think teams have long since figured us out. Still no new left sided attackers with all this spending…
The Newcastle game was poor and it seems we have carried on the same. Can’t maintain any meaningful possession. Rice or Norgaard should come off and creative player inserted. We need Eze.
Please sign Eze, this midfield is so slow and void of creativity. Nothing has changed from last season. We remain defensively solid but I don’t see us breaking any low blocks with this midfield.
It’s frankly boring to watch as a fan. This is the same team functionally as the last several seasons. Everything relies on Saka being able to produce something. Martinelli non-existent, as always. The left side of our attack has been dysfunctional for years at this point. We clearly need to go back into the market. I’m not buying this is “only a friendly”, when the same exact reasons for us coming short and still there to be seen. It’s going to take more than a striker signing to fix a pretty dead and predictable looking midfield.
Less than impressive first half.
Martinelli non existent; Saka overpaying; not a single clear chance created; no shot on target
Meanwhile Spurs hit the woodwork twice and should have had a healthier lead with a little more luck
Can we have a better second half please
Most important thing is no injuries and fitness. The rest is meaningless. The problems is the tactics and how good they work or not. Some need sorting.
Results in these friendlies mean zilch. But you can take away a lot from what you see. First of all, the goal, MLS was fouled by Richarlison (dog s#/t refereeing) BUT two things!!! First the vulnerability of playing the inverted LB and Raya (who has looked awful pre season).got caight off his line. That something he has done too much, too far and he is vulnerable. Two big things that have not changed and makes us vulnerable.
We haven’t troubled their keeper at all, slopy play and pedestrian passing. Not good enough and pretty awful to watch! We are letting Spurs dominate and dictate play!
The result is not important (as others have already said) but it’s the overall performance and, particularly, the tactics that is.
So far at least it looks like much of the “same old, same old” from Arteta. He must show, if not now then soon, that there’s a Plan B ready which, hopefully, accommodates the new signings and shakes things up.
Yes everything I have been explaining was there in abundance in the first half. Arteta feels the route to a trophy is to get even greedier and riskier with passes out from ever higher sweeper keeper – and a 2 7 1 formation where not enough ball winning defence protection is in the DNA makeup of the midfielders.
Where are the battling 3 points built on a cleanie going to come from? We have become the worst team defending corners in the Premier League – I will be proved 100% correct by end of October. But as Arteta belatedly abandons this greedy risky plan and turns to his squad with Plan B for midfield that can help defence keep clean sheets, there won’t be much there as squads overloaded with flair players you can’t stick all on the pitch all at same time. Forget Eze; the next two signings MUST be natural defensive minded ball winning midfielders.
Arsenal win nothing this season without battling 3 points built on cleanies
This 2 7 1 experiment is not going to work.
As usual, a whole load of negativity from the usual suspects. I mean come on it’s just a friendly and this is not even our strongest team playing the first half.
“this is not even our strongest team playing the first half.”
The starting line up not far off what is fit and available for Old Trafford.
I don’t think we should start new season with lots of optimism the way team has been performing for long time now.
The result is important to me because of bragging rights and I don’t like losing to Spurs especially
But it’s not an important match otherwise. We can beat spurs twice during the season lol
Granted it’s only preseason, but it’s rinse and repeat tactically.
Odegaard, Saka, and White everything down the right side, add side and back passing, static positioning and it’s the same tactics of last several years.
All our new signings, at some point you have to analyze the tactics; they have not changed and unsurprisingly neither has our results.
What is it called when you repeat the same thing but expect different results?
I think it’s “Doing an Arteta”.
This is Thomas Frank’s Spurs, suddenly looking different and better than Postecoglou’s
Well at least Mosquera looks like a gem.
I’d be lying if I were to say I’m not slightly worried. Waiting for Arteta to get this side to evolve. The performance replicated many of those random matches we drew last season. My main question is what is our new approach towards teams that sit in, since that is effectively what we came up against today. I didn’t see anything new.
Yeah spot on. This befuddled performance is not new or a one off, it’s what Arsenal have been serving up most games in 2025.
That was embarrassing. An utter mess of first game plan and then gameplay and performance from Arsenal. If you didn’t watch it, don’t be fooled by scoreline – Richarlson and Venn missed open goals as spuds hit cheese on toast repeatedly in first half as Arsenal looked so weak defending corners and crosses, one shot from havertz the only response on target from arsenal? a wider scoreline wouldn’t have mislead how the game panned out.
Yok invisible at this level of football?
Arsenal a bit of worrying mess, not just today, but throughout 2025 so far to be honest.
I’m glad Spuds still have Richarlison. He’s been about as Spursy as you can get.🤣
Disappointing game, nothing to be happy about and even more disappointed with Arteta. Why Martinelli will come out in that second half only he knows, boy did absolutely nothing in the 65 or so minutes he played. By the look of things don’t think we will be dominating teams in the midfield battles, seems we will be setting up defending and hoping we Nick a goal and see out results. It’s ‘only a friendly’ and we created nothing of note and that’s not a great watch!
I don’t think quick Gabi has been the same since his hamstring issues started. When ball at his feet now I don’t expect him to beat anyone. I’m expecting Maddy to start ahead of him and make better fist duelling defenders.
Personally I prefer losing pre season friendly games than winning them that way we know where problems are and areas that needs improvement.
What I took from the game.
1. Martinelli hasn’t, and don’t seem like going to, improve. Beat we sell him while we can get good money for him.
2. No creativity in the mid field. We need Eze.
3. Our defence is our main strength but defence saves you points not get you one or three.
4. It was only a matter of time Raya would be found out, I remember watching some games last season and kept wondering why players of the opposition team not try long range efforts to catch him offguard as he is always miles away from his goal, Is it overconfidence or is he just being cocky?
5. Gyokeres will be a marked man this season. All eyes is on him and those defenders won’t give him an inch.
Anyways it’s just a friendly. Onwards we move, 2 weeks till it begins all over again.
Well put Emperor.
For us to break from the past, we need a fresh forward line. I won’t mind Kai,Martinelli &Trossard as subs but clearly they won’t make us better than what we are.
Infact from now onwards we should start testing the Madueke Gyokeres Saka combination as we look to reinforce.
I hope Trossard’s groin injury isn’t too severe.
I hope so too 🙏
Results don’t matter but performances do. I think some fans are forgetting that our performances haven’t looked great since Jan and nothing seems to be changing.
Pep needs to come up with some new tactics so we can change ours!
EPL opening weekend 2 weeks away
‘EPL opening weekend 2 weeks away“
🙀
We don’t look remotely ready for that tough opening 2 months.
Not bothered by the result, but am concerned with our overall play.
The totts played like their life depends on it.They defended the entire 2nd half to get that win.
What bothers me is the fact that we are holding the ball too much when it needs to be passed. Sakas injury is as a result of over holding the ball.
Our forward line may need some shake up. May be a Madueke Gyokeres Saka combination may make us more potent coz Martinelli and Kai are out of sorts upfront.
Martinelli has been out of sorts for years at this point. If we were cutthroat we’d be actively trying to sell him. He’s not progressing as a player here. I know ppl will say it’s a preseason and I’m overreacting but it’s been years now since he’s stepped up. Can’t be afraid to let players go.
I’ve been one of Martinelli’s fan for a while now but with the first 3 preseason games, it’s still same old Martinelli. My younger brother told me of his decline two seasons ago but I told him that it was down to confidence and form. That has gone on for too long now to either. He no longer deserves to be a starter in this team as his offers little or no creativity, he’s at best a squad player. His strengths (pressing/marking) are secondary to what he is primarily paid to do