Tottenham Hotspur claimed a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Hong Kong heat as Thomas Frank oversaw his first North London Derby win – even if it was only a preseason friendly in name. There was nothing “friendly” about this one, though. Spurs were organised, aggressive, and looked like a side finally beginning to reflect the identity of their new head coach. Here’s how each player fared:
Starting XI
Guglielmo Vicario – 6
Had very little to do all game, bar one routine save and some nervy distribution. Didn’t inspire much drama, which in itself is a credit. Claimed crosses well, looked assured, and kept the clean sheet intact.
Pedro Porro – 9
Arguably Spurs’ player of pre-season so far. His corners were wicked, nearly scoring directly from one. Defensively, he locked down Martinelli, showing massive improvements in an area often questioned. A complete full-back display.
Cristian Romero – 8
Captain for the day and relished the responsibility. Aggressive, dominant, and won his personal duel with Havertz hands down. A few loose touches, but overall led by example, with a couple of cheeky flicks thrown in too.
Micky van de Ven – 8
Cool, calm, and composed. Didn’t need to make any recovery sprints – a sign of improved structure – but dealt with everything that came his way. Missed a golden chance late on, but defensively faultless.
Djed Spence – 8
Saka will be seeing Spence in his nightmares. The young full-back rose to the challenge, winning duels all game and showing why he might just have a future under Frank. An eye-catching performance on the left.
Rodrigo Bentancur – 7
Got stuck into early battles, particularly with Saka. Picked up a yellow but was composed on the ball and helped link transitions. Not vintage Bentancur, but showed leadership and bite.
Lucas Bergvall – 6.5
Tireless work rate and helped win the midfield battle, but lacking the creative spark expected from a No.10. Needs more final-third influence, but defensively strong and played for the badge.
Pape Matar Sarr – 9
What a pre-season this lad is having. Another superb display capped with a sensational long-range lobbed finish. It may have been chalked off in the Premier League, but that doesn’t take away from his energy, aggression, and quality. First name on the midfield teamsheet right now.
Mohammed Kudus – 8
A physical nightmare for Arsenal. So difficult to dispossess, dropped deep to help defend and offered real steel. Lacked end product in terms of goals or assists, but the signs are extremely promising. Could be the solution Spurs have been waiting for on the right.
Wilson Odobert – 7
Another lively showing. Hit the post in the first half and troubled Ben White repeatedly. His end product still needs refining, but he’s making a serious case to start the season as first-choice left winger.
Richarlison – 5
A frustrating afternoon. Missed a sitter and looked disconnected in attack. Ran hard and showed his usual shithousery, but lacked any real attacking presence. Needs to step up, fast.
Substitutes
Kevin Danso – 7
Came on for Romero early and slotted in seamlessly. Aggressive, dominant in the air, and helped withstand Arsenal’s late pressure. “The Magnet” won every aerial duel. One for the season.
Mathys Tel – 6
Worked hard, offered energy, but didn’t affect the game in the No.9 role. His standout moment was a sublime cross for Van de Ven, who should’ve scored. Looks more natural on the wing.
Brennan Johnson – 5
Another disappointing preseason outing. Failed to make an impact after coming on. Booked, barely involved, and a million miles off his best. Needs a strong finish to pre-season to stake a claim.
Manager Rating
Thomas Frank – 8
The structure is starting to show. Spurs looked resilient, hard to beat, and organised — something fans have been crying out for. Still needs to add attacking patterns, but there’s already a steely edge developing. First test passed with flying colours. North London is (preseason) white.
Final Thoughts:
While it’s only a preseason game, this was no ordinary fixture. Tottenham showed grit, clarity of structure, and individual performances that suggest things are trending in the right direction. A win over Arsenal is always sweet — friendly or not. On this evidence, Thomas Frank’s Spurs may just be brewing something special.
