[4-3-2-1]: Gyokeres debut, Eze start and Kepa Arrizabalaga start- Arsenal’s predicted lineup against Tottenham Hotspur as Mikel Arteta confirms key changes ahead of the Spurs clash

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.

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