Micky: “You always want to win the north London derby” | OneFootball

Micky van de Ven’s thought process is crystal clear ahead of Thursday’s north London derby in Hong Kong.

“It’s a massive game for us,” he told us after training on Tuesday. “It’s the north London derby. Even if it’s pre-season, it’s a big game. You always want to win the north London derby.”

The defender was in good spirits as he spoke to SPURSPLAY and the wider media ahead of an historic clash at the Kai Tak Stadium. A rivalry first played in the Football League in 1920/21 following Arsenal’s move from Woolwich to Highbury, this will be the first NLD to be played outside of the UK.

The Dutch international recovered from injury - he missed 27 matches - to play a huge part in our UEFA Europa League success last season. Micky started our last seven matches in the competition and together in central defence with Cuti Romero for the final six, we won five, conceded three goals and lifted the trophy.

“I feel fit and ready to go,” he said. “Winning the trophy gives us confidence, of course. It was an unbelievable way to end the season last season. Everyone has the taste now of winning something, so I have the feeling that everyone wants to do it all over again.”

Going back to the NLD, he added: “It’s a massive game and a good test. It’s also really important to get in the minutes in pre-season. It’s good to play against a good opponent like Arsenal to have a good test to go into the Super Cup and Premier League.”

After Arsenal, we face Newcastle United in Korea on Sunday (12noon UK) before our final pre-season match against FC Bayern in Munich on Thursday week (7 August, 5.30pm UK) - all available to watch on SPURSPLAY. Then it’s to Udine, Italy to face PSG in the UEFA Super Cup on 13 August (8pm UK) before our Premier League opener against Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 16 August (3pm UK).