Arsenal vs Tottenham: Spurs Win, Pape Sarr's Spectacular Goal, and Viktor Gyokeres' Debut

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The preseason match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur ended in a narrow 0-1 victory for the Lilywhites.

The North London derby, which took place on Thursday, July 31, 2025, drew attention because it was held outside England, specifically at Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong.

This result also marked Arsenal's first defeat in their preparations for the new season.

The only goal of the match was scored by Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr, near the end of the first half.

Sarr's spectacular long-range strike caught Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya off guard, who was positioned slightly forward.

This moment proved decisive in the final minutes of a tight match.

In addition to the stunning goal, the match also marked the debut of new Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The player, signed for a whopping £63.5 million, came on as a second-half substitute but failed to make a significant impact for his new team.

The match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong saw the visitors dominate early on.

Despite the pre-season match event, the North London derby played with the same tension with the regular match in Premier League.

Although Arsenal created several early chances, including a William Saliba header that went wide and a Martin Odegaard shot that was blocked, Tottenham were more effective in attack.

The Lilywhites threatened Arsenal's goal several times, even hitting the woodwork three times before the opening goal. 

A crucial moment came when Pape Sarr spotted an opening and unleashed a perfect lob from the halfway line, which sailed past an out-of-position David Raya.

This goal gave Tottenham a crucial lead heading into halftime.

In the second half, Arsenal pushed hard for an equalizer, increasing their attacking intensity.

However, Tottenham Hotspur's solid defense stifled every attempt by the Gunners.

Despite several substitutions to freshen up the attack, Arsenal only managed one shot on target throughout the match, demonstrating their difficulty in breaking through the opposition's backline.

Viktor Gyokeres' debut for Arsenal was one of the main talking points of the match.

The Swedish striker came on in the 77th minute, replacing Kai Havertz, after completing a £63.5 million transfer to the North London club.

His arrival was greeted with rapturous applause by the packed stadium.

Unfortunately, Gyokeres only spent about 13 minutes on the pitch and recorded just two touches of the ball during his appearance.

In that short time, he struggled to adapt to the rhythm of the game and was unable to make a significant contribution in Arsenal's search for an equalizer.

This debut proved to be an early challenge for the striker.

Although his debut didn't go as planned due to the defeat and his lack of contribution, this was only the beginning for Gyokeres at Arsenal.

He had only had two training sessions with his new teammates before this match.

Gyokeres will have another chance to showcase his quality and score his first goal in the upcoming preseason matches against Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao at the Emirates Stadium.