Tottenham claimed pre-season bragging rights over their bitter north London rivals with a 1-0 win in Hong Kong.
Regardless of each side creating probabilities, the match seemed set to succeed in half-time goalless earlier than a second of magic from Pape Matar Sarr.
The 22-year-old netted a surprising effort from 45 yards to catch David Raya off his line and put Thomas Frank’s aspect into the lead.
The Gunners pushed for an equaliser following the restart however even the primary glimpse of Viktor Gyokeres in an Arsenal shirt following his high-profile transfer wasn’t sufficient to get them again into the sport.
Simply days after being unveiled to Gunners followers, the Swedish striker had a quiet afternoon after coming off the bench as Spurs held on to safe victory.
NICK CALLOW analysed the sport to deliver you the seven issues we realized from the primary north London derby to be staged exterior of the UK.
Pape Matar Sarr netted a surprising long-range objective as Tottenham defeated Arsenal in Hong Kong
The Senegalese midfielder opened the scoring by chipping David Raya on the point of half time
Sarr from the midway line
Arsenal needed assessments and never friendlies in all of their matches right here. They won’t have been dissatisfied as each units of gamers received caught in.
Certainly, it was a shock that there was just one first-half yellow card, for Rodrigo Bentancur for a revenge foul on Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal weren’t impressed with Hong Kong referee Lau Fong Hei, who missed a sneaky journey from behind on the quickly breaking Myles Lewis-Skelly which allowed Sarr the time and house to shoot and rating a cracker from contained in the centre circle.
It was made worse when the foul and objective have been replayed on the massive display as Sarr ran to rejoice his sensible strike – and third objective in three video games – in entrance of the Arsenal supporters and an embarrassed Arsenal keeper David Raya, as soon as once more caught off his line.
Gunners’ damage issues
Nonetheless no signal of Gabriel within the Arsenal squad as he battles again from hamstring surgical procedure in April. Arsenal have two extra pre-season matches to get him match to face Manchester United on 17 August. It’s a fear.
In different defensive issues, Jurrien Timber has not resumed full coaching this summer time and Richy Calafiori is nursing yet one more ‘niggle’.
Of fear for Tottenham was Dominic Solanke’s absence – once more. The star Spurs striker began in opposition to Studying earlier this month however missed the next matches in opposition to Wycombe and Luton.
He did practice right here on Tuesday night time however was not even on the bench in opposition to Arsenal. He’ll hope to play an element in Sunday’s match in opposition to Newcastle United, in Korea.
Gabriel was neglected of the Arsenal squad as he continues his restoration from a hamstring damage
Followers get behind debuting Gyokeres
The most important cheers of the night time got here for 2 substitutes: Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres and Tottenham’s Son Heung-min.
This represented a debut look for the Swedish striker and there have been various Gunners followers on the stadium sporting the brand new purple and and white package along with his identify and the long-lasting NO.14 on the again. The hype is actual.
’Sonny’ was the participant all native Spurs followers needed to see so the actual fact he began as a sub would point out he will probably be despatched out for a begin in Korea on the weekend. Each got here on with quarter-hour to go at a time when Spurs have been hanging on and Arsenal have been struggling to show their possession into photographs heading in the right direction.
Neither made a lot of an influence in any case that!
Viktor Gyokeres obtained a heat ovation from the followers in attendance however struggled to influence the sport after approaching as a sub
Packed home in Hong Kong
Arsenal performed in entrance of comparatively small crowds for his or her matches in opposition to AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore, however this was a 50,000 sell-out in Hong Kong.
Each golf equipment reportedly obtained a £2m price only for this match, with promotional charges coming in on high.
Total, each golf equipment could have travelled over 15,000 miles by the point they get again to north London, and each can hope to have netted effectively in extra of £10m with future much more profitable business offers additionally now within the pipeline.
A bought out crowd of greater than 50,000 on the Kai Tak Stadium greeted the groups in Hong Kong
Georgson works his magic
Tottenham lastly have a set-piece coach in former Arsenal man Andreas Georgson and immediately seemed the higher for it.
They efficiently fended off two new-look Arsenal corners early on and hit a submit from their first lifeless ball. In a transfer that appeared to reflect Arsenal’s profitable techniques of final season, they packed the far submit and Pedro Porro curled it their method, dangerously coming off the woodwork.
David Raya additionally seemed panicked on the subsequent one, which additionally hit a submit. Perhaps Ange Postecoglou ought to have taken a leaf out of Arsenal’s teaching handbook too.
Set-piece coach Andreas Georgson(proper) seems to have already made an influence since arriving at Tottenham
Havertz has a degree to show
Match once more, Arsenal ahead Kai Havertz maybe has essentially the most to worry following the signing of Gyokeres.
He completed final season injured and nonetheless as their main scorer on 9 Premier League objectives and 15 total. Which may not lower it now Arteta has a correct goal-scoring different.
Havertz battled away and led the road effectively however his taking pictures was not overly spectacular earlier than he was subbed for Huge Vik. The Tremendous Swede had one missed glancing header and didn’t get to have a single shot on objective in his 15 minute debut.
Kai Havertz produced an industrious, albeit unproductive, efficiency main the road for the Gunners
Kudos for Kudus
Tottenham’s star midfield signing, Mohammed Kudus, already seems to be made for this Thomas Frank aspect.
The Ghana worldwide gives a menace missing within the Tottenham squad of final season and pressed in addition to he received ahead. Tottenham’s urgent all spherical was effectively coordinated, supported by a typically resilient defensive efficiency.
If Thomas Frank can constantly make them tighter on the again, submit extra of a menace going ahead than they did on this match and be typically extra strong, they may very well be in for a greater season than final.
They appear more durable to beat a minimum of.
