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New Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has acknowledged that Thursday’s pre-season showdown with fierce rivals Arsenal in Hong Kong represents his first major test in the role, insisting it will be “more than just a friendly”.
Speaking ahead of the sold-out fixture at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium, the Danish boss said: “It’s a great challenge. Beyond being our biggest rivals and the first North London derby to be played outside the UK, Arsenal are, unfortunately I must say, one of the best teams in the world right now.”
Frank, who took charge last month following the departure of Ange Postecoglou, made it clear that the club will be treating the encounter with utmost seriousness. “Against Arsenal, it’s not only a friendly — we’ll do everything we can to win,” he said with a grin.
The match marks a historic moment as it will be the first North London derby played outside British soil, drawing huge anticipation from fans in Asia.
Frank steps into the role after Postecoglou was dismissed despite ending Tottenham’s 17-year wait for silverware with last season’s Europa League title.
Tottenham have already strengthened their squad this summer, securing Ghanaian attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus from West Ham for $74 million. However, attempts to lure Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest have so far been unsuccessful.
While keeping details close to his chest, Frank hinted at ongoing efforts in the transfer market. “We’re constantly talking about transfers — that’s something I’d prefer to keep private. I’m generally happy with the squad but we know where we could still improve,” he said. “Mohammed has already shown his quality since joining.”
One of the major setbacks Spurs faced last season — in which they finished a disappointing 17th in the Premier League — was a long list of injuries to key players.
Central defender Micky van de Ven, who missed substantial game time through injury, is optimistic he is now physically prepared for the campaign ahead.
“I’ve never had a pre-season with Tottenham before,” said the 24-year-old Dutchman, who joined the club late in the 2023 transfer window and then featured in last summer’s Euros.
“Now I’ve had time to work on my body and get it ready for the Premier League, Champions League and everything else coming up.”
Frank emphasised the importance of maintaining player availability. “That’s key for any club,” he noted. “With the number of matches increasing and the intensity rising, fitness becomes even more vital.”
He added that Spurs have used their extended pre-season to fine-tune preparations. “It allows us to push and pull players as needed. We’ve made a few tweaks to our approach in training, and I hope that’ll pay off during the season.”
