Sports Mole

Billed as a friendly, Thursday's pre-season North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong should be anything but.

The Gunners are searching for their fourth win from four summer contests, while Thomas Frank's side are also yet to lose an exhibition game but could only draw with Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend.

Here, Sports Mole provides everything you need to know about how to tune into Thursday's game.

What time does Arsenal vs. Tottenham kick off?

Arsenal vs. Tottenham is an 12.30pm kickoff in the UK, allowing working supporters to catch a glimpse of the action during their lunch breaks.Â

Meanwhile, the game is scheduled to begin at 7.30pm in Hong Kong, which is seven hours ahead.

Where is Arsenal vs. Tottenham being played?

The first-ever North London derby to take place outside of the UK is being played at Kai Tak Sports Park in Kowloon, a multipurpose venue which also hosts rugby matches and music concerts.

The 50,000-seater stadium was only officially opened in March, and Thursday's game will be just the third football match played at the ground, which recently hosted AC Milan's 4-2 win over Liverpool.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Tottenham in the UK

TV channels

Arsenal vs. Tottenham is not available to watch on terrestrial TV in the UK.

However, fans in the US can catch the action on Paramount+, while supporters in India can watch the game via FanCode.

Online streaming

Arsenal and Tottenham's official websites and apps will offer live streaming of the derby, albeit on a pay-per-view basis.

Before 9am on Thursday morning, fans can pay £4.99 to watch the match on arsenal.com, or pay £14.99 to also catch the Gunners' clashes with Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao next month.

Alternatively, members can watch a live screening of the game at the Emirates Stadium at a price of £5 for Platinum, Gold, Silver and Red members.

Tottenham's corresponding video service SPURSPLAY will also host the event for subscribers.

Highlights

Both the official Arsenal and Tottenham websites should upload post-match highlights, which may also be available to view on the clubs' YouTube channels.

During the game, snippets of the action may also be posted on their respective social media pages, as well as from journalists and other media attending the event.

What is at stake for Arsenal and Tottenham?

Thursday's game may not mean much from a competitive standpoint, but the bragging rights are always worth fighting for in a North London derby, and Spurs have an added incentive to prevail.

The Europa League winners have not beaten their bitter rivals in a competitive match since the end of the 2021-22 Premier League season, losing their last three in a row to the men in red and white, and the game may also mark a final North London derby for captain Son Heung-min amid links with MLS.

Both teams are also putting their unbeaten pre-season runs on the line, while Arsenal are aiming to prolong their perfect summer record, having seen off AC Milan, Watford and Newcastle United thus far.

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Arsenal's new number 14 Viktor Gyokeres will be in line for his unofficial Gunners debut in Thursday's pre-season North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong.

The Sweden international was unveiled as an Arsenal player over the weekend and is already training with his new teammates in the Far East, although Mikel Arteta has remained typically coy when asked about his involvement.

Gyokeres should earn some minutes either way, but it would not be a surprise to see the 27-year-old introduced from the bench, meaning that Kai Havertz should continue to spearhead the attack.

Fifteen-year-old Max Dowman ran Newcastle United ragged on the right-hand side in Sunday's 3-2 win, but Bukayo Saka should reprise his role regardless, while Gabriel Martinelli bombs down the left.

Speaking of teenagers lighting up pitches, Ethan Nwaneri did exactly that against AC Milan last week and is in line to replace Martin Odegaard, potentially alongside Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice in a menacing midfield.

However, Riccardo Calafiori sustained another injury blow at the weekend and should not be risked even if his affliction is minor, so the door is surely open for Cristhian Mosquera to make his Arsenal debut.

The Spaniard could occupy the left centre-back slot alongside William Saliba, while Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko also protect Kepa Arrizabalaga, who should earn a shot at guarding the posts from the first whistle.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Kepa; White, Saliba, Mosquera, Zinchenko; Nwaneri, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

> Click here to see how Spurs could line up for this game

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Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min could contest his final North London derby when the Lilywhites meet Arsenal in Thursday's pre-season friendly in Hong Kong.

The 33-year-old has flown out to the Far East with his teammates, but at the same time, he is said to be advancing in discussions over a move to an MLS giant.

No final decision on Son's future will be made while Spurs are on tour, though, and the South Korea international should line up on the left flank for Thomas Frank's side at Kai Tak Sports Park.

Son could comprise one-third of a fearsome attacking trio also boasting Dominic Solanke and new signing Mohammed Kudus, while James Maddison pulls the creative strings slightly further back.

Pape Sarr found the back of the net twice against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, and while his strikes were only good enough for a 2-2 draw, he could be rewarded with a start alongside Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur in the engine room.

Barring the injured Destiny Udogie, Frank has the rest of his first-choice backline available to him, so all of Guglielmo Vicario, Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven could feature from the first whistle alongside Djed Spence.

Radu Dragusin, Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil, Dejan Kulusevski and Kota Takai are all absent for fitness reasons, while Mikey Moore, Dane Scarlett and Alfie Devine have been left at home in order to explore loan moves elsewhere.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Maddison, Bentancur, Sarr; Kudus, Solanke, Son

> Click here to see how Arsenal could line up for this game

No Data Analysis info

A not-so-friendly friendly is on the cards on Thursday, as bitter rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur contest a pre-season North London derby at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.

The Gunners are three for three this summer following their 3-2 triumph over Newcastle United, while Thomas Frank's crop most recently played out an uninspiring draw with Luton Town.

Match preview

On the highest of highs following the long-awaited capture of Viktor Gyokeres, who was presented to the crowd in Singapore before Sunday's showdown with Newcastle, Arsenal did it the hard way to sink the Magpies in a five-goal thriller.

Anthony Elanga filled Alexander Isak's black and white boots to propel Newcastle ahead, only for Mikel Merino to haunt his old club and Alex Murphy to rifle a finish into the roof of his own net to turn the tide in Arsenal's favour.

The latter's namesake Jacob Murphy restored parity for Eddie Howe's men with a stunning low strike early in the second half, but the man - or boy - pictured above won a late spot kick for his superior Martin Odegaard to coolly convert.

While new signings have partially dominated the conversation, 15-year-old Max Dowman is the talk of the town in the red half of North London, having exuded complete confidence when facing opponents twice his age against AC Milan and most recently Newcastle.

Including a behind-closed-doors triumph over Watford at London Colney, Arsenal are a perfect 3-0 in exhibition matches this summer and now prepare to conclude their tour of the Far East, after which Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao will soon visit the Emirates Stadium.

Both Arsenal and their adversaries Tottenham are putting their unbeaten friendly records on the line in Hong Kong, but while there has been plenty for the Gunners to shout about so far, Thomas Frank's men recently flattered to deceive on home turf.

The Dane's reign commenced in ideal fashion with a 2-0 triumph over League One outfit Reading, before two different Spurs XIs faced Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town respectively on July 26, where neither managed to win.

A Pape Sarr brace was only good enough for a 2-2 draw with Wycombe at Hotspur Way, before 10,000 supporters packed in to Kenilworth Road to witness a drab 0-0 between Spurs and Luton Town, which had the feel of a meaningless pre-season contest written all over it.

News of Morgan Gibbs-White signing a new Nottingham Forest deal only served to dampen Spurs' spirits further, but 10 days away from familiar surroundings may do Frank and co the world of good, as they prepare for three more friendlies in three different countries.

The Lilywhites will also pit their wits against Newcastle in South Korea on August 3, four days before a reunion with Harry Kane, whose Bayern Munich side host Tottenham in the Telekom Cup.

However, Spurs' immediate task at hand is ending a three-year hoodoo against Arsenal, whom they have not beaten competitively since the 2021-22 Premier League season, losing their last three head-to-heads with their noisy neighbours.

Arsenal friendly form:

Tottenham Hotspur friendly form:

Team News

There is only one question on Gooners' lips right now; will Gyokeres make his debut against Tottenham? Arteta was typically guarded when asked directly last week, but the Swede has now been integrated into team training, so an unofficial first appearance is more likely than not.

The same goes for fellow new recruit Cristhian Mosquera, who was not deemed ready for action against Newcastle but could now earn his Arsenal baptism, especially as Riccardo Calafiori sustained yet another injury last time out.

The severity of the Italian's knock is unclear, but Arteta has no need to risk the injury-plagued defender, who could join Gabriel Magalhaes (knock) and Jurrien Timber (ankle) on the sidelines this week.

Meanwhile, Spurs have left a sextet of injured recruits at home, as Bryan Gil, Manor Solomon, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Destiny Udogie and new signing Kota Takai will play no part of their pre-season tour.

Youngsters Mikey Moore, Alfie Devine and Dane Scarlett have also been omitted while they seek loan exits, but £55m man Kudus is involved, as is long-serving skipper Son Heung-min.

The South Korea international is said to be advancing in talks over a move to MLS, but no deal is expected to go through before Tottenham arrive back in the UK.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Kepa; White, Saliba, Mosquera, Zinchenko; Nwaneri, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Maddison, Bentancur, Sarr; Kudus, Solanke, Son

We say: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

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In what will be the first-ever men's North London derby to be played outside of the UK, Arsenal have our vote to continue their streak of dominance over the Europa League winners.

Pre-season friendlies are perhaps the most unpredictable matches in football, but the Gunners' significant squad depth should come to the fore once both managers start ringing the changes.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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No Data Analysis info

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Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira has supposedly emerged as a 'name of interest' for West Ham United amid uncertainty surrounding his Gunners future.

The 25-year-old is due back in North London following a loan spell at former club Porto in the 2024-25 season, during which he partially managed to reignite his career.

Vieira managed five goals and six assists in 42 matches for the Portuguese giants and started all three of their matches at the Club World Cup, but he could not prevent Porto from a group-stage elimination.

Mikel Arteta decided to leave Vieira out of his pre-season squad for Arsenal's trip to Asia following his Club World Cup exploits, and a permanent move away from the Emirates is now expected to materialise this summer.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, West Ham have now taken a liking to Vieira, who is a 'name of interest' for the former Conference League champions this summer.

Arsenal's Vieira to replace Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta at West Ham?

Jacobs adds that the Irons want to add 'multiple' midfielders to their ranks this summer, and Vieira fits the bill in terms of what head coach Graham Potter is looking for.

West Ham have already lost Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, while they are also believed to be open to offers for Lucas Paqueta, in spite of the fact that the Brazilian is expected to be cleared of spot-fixing charges.

However, the Hammers are supposedly yet to touch base with Arsenal over a deal for Vieira, who is only under contract at the Emirates Stadium for another two years.

The Portuguese playmaker joined the Gunners for just over £30m in the summer of 2022, but he has failed to adapt to life in England, only producing three goals and 10 assists in 49 games in all tournaments.

Vieira made 33 Premier League appearances over the course of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, but he started just five of those contests, making a further 28 entries off the bench.

Could Vieira still reignite his Arsenal career?

A couple of months before touching down in North London, Vieira provided more assists than any other player in the 2021-22 Primeira Liga season, setting up his teammates on 14 occasions in Porto colours.

The playmaker's move to Arsenal was one of those rare transfers that comes out of nowhere, and a sumptuous strike against Brentford in September 2022 was the perfect way to endear himself to the Emirates faithful.

However, Vieira has arguably been a victim of his team's own success, as Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka were indispensable in 2022-23 and 2023-24, forcing him to accept a peripheral role.

The 25-year-old did not always impress when given opportunities in the Europa League, though, and there have been perpetual concerns about whether the slight midfielder is capable of cutting it physically in England.

MLS outfit Los Angeles FC are supposedly 'advancing' in talks to sign Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min during the summer transfer window.

The 33-year-old's contract with the Europa League winners now has a little under 12 months left to run, and there is currently no indication that the former Bayer Leverkusen man will pen another extension.

Head coach Thomas Frank has suggested that Son will remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the 2025-26 season, but at the same time, the club will supposedly not stand in his way of an exit.

A switch to MLS or Saudi Arabia have been seen as the two most viable routes for the South Korea international, who does not appear to have garnered much interest from other clubs in Europe.

Now, GIVEMESPORT claims that LAFC are making progress in their efforts to bring Son to North America, and they are 'close' to an agreement on personal terms with the Spurs skipper.

Saudi Son proposal 'revealed' amid LAFC transfer links

The Black and Gold are apparently of the view that a transfer will be possible towards the end of the summer window, but they are not in a one-horse race for the 33-year-old.

Indeed, Saudi Pro League clubs are still believed to be keeping a close eye on the situation, and they would supposedly be willing to stump up $40m (£30m) including add-ons to beat LAFC to his signature.

Such a fee would see Tottenham make a small profit on the €30m (£26m) they paid Bayer Leverkusen for Son's services 10 years ago, since when the South Korean has cemented himself in Tottenham folklore.

The 33-year-old is the Lilywhites' fifth-highest male scorer of all time with 173 goals from 454 appearances, only trailing Harry Kane (280), Jimmy Greaves (268), Bobby Smith (208) and Martin Chivers (174) in the charts.

Despite a perceived drop-off in performance last season, Son still hit double figures in goals (11) and assists (12) in all competitions as he won his first-ever trophy with Spurs in the Europa League.

Tottenham transfer news: Why Son sale could backfire financially

While Son's future hangs in the balance, the South Korea legend is currently with the Spurs squad in Hong Kong as part of their pre-season tour of Asia.

Frank's side take on North London rivals Arsenal on Thursday, before heading to Son's home country to meet another Premier League side in Newcastle United at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 3.

The report adds that Son is 'contractually obliged' to play in the game against the Magpies, and if Tottenham sell him before then, they will forfeit a significant chunk of their commercial revenue.

However, no final decision on Son's future is expected to be made until after Tottenham's pre-season tour, as the attacker is expected to hold crunch talks with Frank when back in the UK.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has insisted that Son Heung-min will have a good role next season amid speculation regarding his future.

Spurs were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Luton Town in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, with summer signing Mohammed Kudus making another appearance.

The attacker could be one of a number of forward additions this transfer window, but it would not be surprising if stars left the club to make room for more signings.

Captain Son has been linked with an exit from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium amid reported interest from sides in the Saudi Pro League and MLS.

However, boss Frank has claimed that the veteran will be given an appealing role next season, telling reporters: "I think first and foremost, Son's legacy here is remarkable. He's been a fantastic player for Tottenham, he is a fantastic player for Tottenham.

"I see a player that that can play a very good role here next season. He's come in, very good mindset, trained very hard, pushed the players. So I'm excited about it."

With the forward having just a year remaining on his deal, Spurs face the prospect of him leaving for nothing in the summer of 2026 should they decide to keep him at the club.

Has Son's decline been exaggerated?

Son did at times struggle in for Tottenham in 2024-25, though his performances cannot solely be attributed to a supposed decline given the team as a whole struggled, with former boss Ange Postecoglou guiding the club to a 17th-placed finish.

The forward only scored Premier League goals in that campaign, marking his lowest ever return for the Londoners since his first season in 2015-16, when he netted just four times.

While the South Korean's goalscoring form suffered, he did manage to rack up nine assists, a figure that was just one shy of his best ever total in the English top flight.

Son has in fact produced a career high 0.38 assists per 90 in the league last term, and though he may no longer be as deadly inside the box, he has arguably developed the creative side of his game.

What role will Son play under Frank for Tottenham?

Given Son is now 33 years old, he is unlikely to be able to play as frequently as he did when he was younger, so fans can expect to see him on the bench often.

The South Korean is able to operate either out wide or in a central role, meaning he could come into the XI as a rotation option for striker Dominic Solanke or winger Brennan Johnson.

With Spurs set to compete in the Champions League, there will be opportunities for Son to come into the team in the Premier League in order to make sure first-team stars are as fresh as possible for crucial European clashes.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among the three clubs keen to bring back former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to the Premier League this summer.Â

Newcastle United are the third club looking to sign their former striker as they prepare alternative plans in case Alexander Isak leaves the club.Â

Since joining Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal from Fulham in 2023, Mitrovic has enjoyed excellent form, scoring 68 goals in 79 games over the past two seasons.Â

According to a report from Caughtoffside, Man Utd, Spurs, and Newcastle are looking to sign Mitrovic, who is valued at around €30m (£26m).Â

Mitrovic would be a solid addition for Man Utd and Spurs Â

The Red Devils are looking to rebuild their squad under Ruben Amorim, and they have already signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.Â

United need more quality players in their attacking department after finishing 15th in the Premier League last season. The likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been underwhelming since joining the club, and they need an experienced striker who can guarantee regular goals. Mitrovic fits the bill.Â

Tottenham have signed Mathys Tel permanently from Bayern Munich and added Mohammed Kudus to their ranks. However, Thomas Frank probably would need another top striker if Richarlison and Son Heung-Min are allowed to leave.Â

Newcastle could lose their talisman Isak this summer, and they are already checking on several options. According to Florian Plettenberg, the Magpies are in the race for Benjamin Sesko, but they need to pay around €80m (£70m) for the RB Leipzig striker.Â

Mitrovic could be a cheaper alternative for Eddie Howe if Newcastle want to take a chance with him.Â

Spurs and Newcastle have an advantage over Man UtdÂ

The Serbian still has a lot of quality football left in him, but it is not clear whether he still has the hunger to test himself at the top level.Â

The former Anderlecht striker scored only 17 goals in 72 games for the Magpies, but his record for Fulham was impressive. The Serbian scored 111 goals in 206 games for the Cottagers, and he would be a solid addition to all three interested clubs.Â

Tottenham and Newcastle can offer him European football, which could prove to be a significant factor in Mitrovic's decision to choose his next club if he decides to leave.

The asking price is quite affordable for all three Premier League clubs, and it remains to be seen if any one of them comes up with a concrete offer.Â

Tottenham Hotspur prospect Mikey Moore is allegedly most likely to join a Champions League club on loan.

The 17-year-old is viewed as one of the most highly-regarded academy graduates at the North London outfit since the emergence of Harry Kane.

Despite his age, the playmaker has already racked up a total of 21 appearances and 815 minutes of football in the senior ranks.

However, despite already having a goal in the Europa League under his belt, too, it appears that his game time under Thomas Frank could be limited.

Mohammed Kudus's arrival from West Ham United will only push Moore further down the pecking order, yet it appears that a plan for the next stage of his development could be in place.

Which club could sign Mikey Moore?

As per journalist Matt Law of The Telegraph, Rangers have emerged as the favourites to sign the England Under-19 international.

The report claims that a number of Championship clubs have also been monitoring the situation and were seemingly prepared to hand Moore regular minutes.

Instead, it appears that Scottish giants Rangers are in line to acquire the services of Moore for the 2025-26 campaign.

Rangers are currently preparing for the second leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie at Panathinaikos, holding a 2-0 advantage from the first fixture at Ibrox.

New head coach Russell Martin has already brought in seven fresh faces in an effort to progress through to the League Phase and challenge Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title.

Perfect move for Moore?

While Moore would not be someone who would start every game for Rangers, experiencing the pressure of playing for a big club can only benefit him going forward.

He has already had that at Spurs, but he could drop out of the picture in the short term if he were to remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this campaign.

Having failed to sign Morgan Gibbs-White for £60m, those funds will realistically be allocated to trying to sign another playmaker of a similar profile.

Spurs may insist on Moore penning fresh terms before his likely loan exit. Just two years remain on his current contract.

Tottenham Hotspur have allegedly expressed a shock interest in Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus, whose future is the subject of mounting uncertainty.

The 28-year-old's contract with the Gunners only runs until the end of the 2026-27 campaign, and sporting director Andrea Berta is allegedly weighing up the sale of the Brazilian in the current window.

Jesus has been out of action since January due to a severe ACL injury, and he is also expected to miss the first few months of the 2025-26 season, although he has been taking positive steps in his rehabilitation.

However, with Viktor Gyokeres now donning the red and white stripes, Jesus could be relegated to third-choice centre-forward in North London owing to the presence of Kai Havertz.

Clubs in both Europe and Brazil are believed to have enquired about Jesus's situation, including Flamengo, who are said to be preparing an offer of a loan deal with an option to buy in 2026.

Tottenham 'among several clubs' tracking Arsenal's Jesus

The South American giants welcomed Jesus's former Arsenal teammate Jorginho to the club on a free transfer earlier this summer, but they will supposedly face significant competition to reunite him with Jesus.

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal's bitter rivals Spurs are among the clubs monitoring the striker's situation, along with a few other revered European teams.

Barcelona - who are preparing for a post-Robert Lewandowski future - are also rumoured to be keeping a close eye on developments, as are AC Milan, Inter Milan and Newcastle United.

However, given that Jesus is expected to be sidelined until the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026, the report adds that both European and South American clubs would be more likely to make their move during the January transfer window.

Jesus has produced 26 goals and 20 assists from 96 games for Arsenal since joining from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, including six strikes in four games last winter during a brief resurgence.

Which players have played for both Arsenal and Tottenham?

While Sol Campbell may be the most noteworthy example of a player to cross the North London divide, several others have moved in the opposite direction, abandoning their red and white stripes for a lilywhite kit.

Jesus's fellow striker Emmanuel Adebayor had already become Gooners' public enemy number one by running to celebrate in front of them while playing for Man City in 2009, before burning any bridges he had left by joining Tottenham.

The Togo international then scored in both 5-2 Emirates thrillers in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, although he was also sent off in the latter for a horrendous challenge on Santi Cazorla.

Adebayor also briefly shared a dressing room with William Gallas at White Hart Lane, while David Bentley made a name for himself at Spurs after coming through the Arsenal academy system, memorably scoring a 40-yard screamer in the 4-4 draw in 2008-09.