Tottenham Hotspur kick off their Asian pre-season tour with the first-ever overseas North London Derby against Arsenal on Saturday at the brand-new Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.
It feels a bit odd to put “North London Derby” and “Friendly” in the same sentence, so we’ll try to avoid that wherever possible.
When this fixture was first announced, reactions were mixed. One set of fans felt that derbies like this -arguably one of football’s fiercest rivalries- should be sacred to N17 or the Emirates to preserve the authenticity. Others welcomed the idea, arguing that an extra clash, even in pre-season, only benefits everyone involved: fans across the globe, clubs financially, and players who’ll get to test themselves in derby conditions without the pressure of points.
Arsenal are the designated home team for this one, and they come into the clash with confidence. The Gunners saw off AC Milan 1-0 before edging Newcastle 3-2, both in Singapore. Their 2024/25 campaign saw them finish second in the Premier League for the 3rd time in a row and reach the Champions League semi-finals, but it all ended trophyless. That’s a record they’ll be desperate to change.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ return to Europe came in style. After a dismal domestic league finish that left them just above the relegation zone, they still managed to win a long-awaited European trophy and secure Champions League football in the upcoming season.
Thomas Frank’s tenure at Tottenham Hotspur began against 3 League One oppositions. First, a 2-0 win over Reading, followed by back-to-back draws against Wycombe (2-2) and Luton Town (0-0) on the same day.
Now, it gets serious. Spurs face Premier League sides, German giants Bayern Munich, and then the long-anticipated UEFA Super Cup final against PSG.
What time does Arsenal vs Tottenham kick off?
Location: Hong Kong
Stadium: Kai Tak Sports Park, Kowloon City
Date: Thursday, 31st July 2025
Kick-off Time: 12:30 pm BST
Where to watch the friendly between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur
Both clubs will stream the match on their official platforms; Arsenal.com and SPURSPLAY, for fans with active subscriptions. Do note, availability may vary depending on your region.
For fans in the US, the match will be available on Paramount+, while supporters in India can stream the game via FanCode.
Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head-to-head record
While this game won’t count towards the official head-to-head tally, it’s still a derby, and fans will want to walk away with bragging rights.
Spurs haven’t tasted derby victory since May 2022, going winless in the last four clashes under Ange Postecoglou. Arsenal claimed three wins and a draw in that period, dominating the recent chapters of this rivalry.
For Thomas Frank, this fixture might be a friendly, but a win here would go a long way with the fanbase and set the tone ahead of a massive season.
Tottenham team news
Thomas Frank confirmed that Destiny Udogie, Manor Solomon, and Kota Takai haven’t travelled due to injury, while Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, and Bryan Gil remain at Hotspur Way for rehabilitation.
Mikey Moore, Alfie Devine, and Dane Scarlett have also stayed behind to explore loan opportunities.
On a positive note, Frank shared updates on Rodrigo Bentancur and Dominic Solanke, both of whom missed last weekend’s double-header. Solanke is “progressing well”, though remains a doubt, while Bentancur is ready to return.
No fresh signings have arrived since Mohammed Kudus, after the late collapse of the Morgan Gibbs-White deal.
There have been links to exciting talents and a few big names, but nothing concrete yet has developed.
Arsenal team news
Gabriel Jesus, who has been linked with an unexpected move to Spurs, remains out. Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli and Jurrien Timber are both recovering from hamstring and ankle problems, respectively.
Riccardo Calafiori is also expected to miss out due to a muscle injury.
However, fans can expect to see new marquee signing Viktor Gyokeres in action, who is likely to make his Arsenal debut in this very derby.
Predicted Tottenham line-up
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Gray, Bergvall; Kudus, Tel, Son.
Predicting starting XIs for friendlies hardly ever go right, but most of the players listed above should feature at some point. Due to the lack of left-back options, there’s a fair bit of chance Frank won’t repeat the experiment of playing Jamie Donley there like he did against Luton – even for 45 minutes.
Our prediction
This one might not count in the table, but it counts. The atmosphere, the pressure, the fans, everything about the North London Derby still matters, whether it’s July or November.
Mohammed Kudus could light it up for Spurs, while Arsenal fans will have their eyes glued on Viktor Gyokeres as he makes his first appearance in red.
Derbies are rarely predictable, but this one feels like it could tilt Tottenham’s way. Arsenal may have the recent bragging rights, but with Frank keen to make a statement, we’re backing Spurs to edge this.
Predicted score: Arsenal 1-2 Tottenham
COYS.
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