It is the primary North London derby ever performed outdoors the UK and it comes at a important juncture for each groups. It appears as if the hole between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur is as vast because it has been in a technology, and the fact is it’s important to return almost 50 years, to Spurs’ non permanent sojourn within the second tier in 1977-78 for the final time as many positions separated them from their rivals down the Seven Sisters Street.
Arsenal ended 2024-25 within the acquainted place of second, whereas for Tottenham this proved to be a yr they flirted with each triumph and catastrophe, touchdown on a curious type of the latter by profitable the Europa League and ending in seventeenth, simply above the Premier League drop zone. The latter value Ange Postecoglou his job with Thomas Frank shortly alighted on because the alternative.
If the previous Brentford boss needs to shortly ingratiate himself to his new trustworthy then ending a six man winless streak in opposition to the nice enemy could be a perfect technique to start, even when it is simply in preseason. The North London derby tends to be one the place residence benefit pays off spectacularly — Arsenal are 15 years unbeaten in Premier League derbies on the Emirates Stadium — however proper now Spurs are on a 3 recreation dropping streak at their very own floor. Maybe Hong Kong’s impartial soil (and a pleasant match you’ll be able to watch stay on CBS Sports Golazo Network or Paramount+) will give them the encouragement that they will go on to match the Gunners within the larger exams to come back. For now this recreation alone gives fairly a useful measure of the progress Tottenham have or haven’t made this summer season, as their new boss acknowledged on Tuesday.
What to expect from Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal: Will Gunners’ new attacker live up to hype in Premier League?
James Benge
“I feel it is an important problem moreover being our largest rivals and the primary North London Derby outdoors the UK,” stated Frank. “It is also proper now top-of-the-line groups, I have to say sadly, on the planet. We additionally have to be trustworthy. In that means it is going to be an enormous take a look at, nevertheless it’s greater than a take a look at as in opposition to Arsenal it is not solely a pleasant. After all it is a recreation we are going to do all the pieces we will to win.”
Can Spurs actually hope to swing a 36 level hole again of their favor? What’s the restrict of what can realistically be anticipated of Frank’s new facet and does it come anyplace near a worst case state of affairs for Arsenal? Learn on to seek out out.
Arsenal vs. Tottenham viewing info
- Date: Thursday, July 31 | Time: 7:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Kai Tak Sports activities Park — Hong Kong
- Dwell stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network or Paramount+
- Odds: Arsenal -182; Draw +320; Tottenham +380
Arsenal’s flooring
There’s a honest argument to be made that what we noticed from Arsenal final season was not that a lot increased than a backside 10 p.c attainable end result for Arteta’s facet. Devastated by accidents, Mikel Arteta acquired solely six league begins out of Gabriel Jesus, 20 from Bukayo Saka, 21 from Kai Havertz, 25 from Gabriel Martinelli and 26 from Martin Odegaard. That’s arguably Arsenal’s 5 most essential forwards, every lacking almost a 3rd of the season or extra. In such circumstances the Gunners pretty swiftly fell too far behind Liverpool to mount a compelling title problem, however even with a number of wobbles they have been by no means actually prone to slipping out of the highest 4.
Had Arteta had larger depth at his disposal maybe the Gunners might have saved on Liverpool’s heels and baited a number of wobbles from the champions. Actually new sporting director Andrea Berta has moved to handle that, a sextet of latest signings that means that there are two skilled, worldwide stage gamers for nearly each place. The one one the place that may not be the case is Martin Odegaard’s, the place Ethan Nwaneri presently figures to be the again up. Having one of many brightest younger prospects within the current historical past of the Hale Finish academy is hardly to be sniffed at.
Arsenal know what their ceiling is: a Premier League title and/or Champions League. How far would possibly they fall? Setting apart black swan occasions, as we are going to for Tottenham beneath, it’s laborious to make a lot of a case for the Gunners drifting outdoors the highest 4. A 3rd place end, that is fairly simple. Arsenal aren’t pretty much as good as they is likely to be, Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool are.
Perhaps you possibly can add Chelsea to that blend too. After all of the Blues have been solely 5 factors again come the tip of final season and their anticipated purpose distinction of 21.16 was not too far off Arsenal’s 26.55. Maybe Newcastle maintain Alexander Isak, do not get gazumped on each participant they need to signal and begin the season effectively. In these circumstances maybe the Gunners might drop into the Champions League bubble nevertheless it certainly cannot get any worse that that, can it?
*No, that was not an invite so that you can all go Mick McCarthy on me*
Tottenham’s ceiling
As for Spurs, their final season is a tough one to evaluate. For roughly the primary third of the marketing campaign, Postecoglou’s males gained each recreation the place they have been the dominant facet and acquired subsequent to nothing from the shut ones. Then got here a raft of accidents via the Tottenham protection extra brutal even than these Arsenal confronted of their assault, weeks on finish the place it was a exceptional stroke of fortune if two of the common again 5 might take the sector. By the point that each one eased Premier League hopes have been over, however the Europa League glistened temptingly on the horizon, so Postecoglou rightly concluded that it was higher to sacrifice a number of home video games when the opposite competitors supplied silverware and a path to the Champions League.
The combination story for the league doesn’t look encouraging although. Seventeenth could have overexaggerated Spurs’ failings however their anticipated purpose distinction was the fifteenth finest within the division, the 65 they conceded a excessive watermark of defensive failings overwhelmed solely by Wolves and the three relegated groups.
Tottenham seemed like a group that would rating three however would possibly simply concede 4 and their switch enterprise this summer season has performed little to vary that. Mathys Tel’s mortgage has been made everlasting whereas Mohamed Kudus has been the marquee signing to date, arriving from West Ham. What funding has gone in to strengthening the protection seems to be for the long run with signings similar to Kota Takai. Up to now the deep-lying midfielder that this squad so desperately wanted final season has not arrived.
It’s honest to imagine {that a} coach of Frank’s qualities will strengthen Spurs defensively, his Brentford facet having truly allowed fewer xG per recreation over the previous 4 seasons than his new employers. Health alone ought to convey the defensive output again in direction of the remainder of the massive six. However can Tottenham actually hope to catch their biggest rival?
The bookmakers would counsel not, rating Spurs as across the eighth most certainly group to qualify for the Champions League. That appears a good estimation of the place their squad is now. There are vibrant younger issues like Future Udogie and Lucas Bergvall who might play an enormous function on a prime 4 group sooner or later after which veterans like Heung-min Son (ought to rumors of a transfer to Los Angeles not pan out) and Richarlison with loads of miles of their legs. Between them, there are possibly solely a few key gamers rounding out into their prime at 24. The perfect of them, Micky van de Ven, struggles for availability.
Now maybe they get 38 video games from him and Cristian Romero. Maybe Son holds again the ageing tide and possibly Frank’s teaching acumen makes up for the defensive limitations of his midfield choices. A prime ten percentile season, in different phrases. What is likely to be the ceiling then? Realistically it is likely to be the cusp of Champions League rivalry, one that might be simpler if a number of extra of the massive six fell off.
So, might Spurs’ ceiling take them increased than Arsenal’s flooring? In all probability not in a season that’s vaguely regular; it might require a really, superb Tottenham marketing campaign to come back similtaneously lightning saved placing the Emirates Stadium. Nonetheless that is North London, part of the world that may ship a number of 5-2 derby comebacks in the identical yr. Unusual issues can occur.