Arsenal were narrowly defeated 0-1 by Tottenham Hotspur in a historic North London derby pre-season friendly held on July 31, 2025, at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium. This marked the first time the iconic derby was played outside the UK, drawing a record crowd of 49,975 spectators.
The sole and decisive goal came from Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr, who scored a stunning long-range strike from about 45 yards out. The goal unfolded after Sarr intercepted the ball from Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, who appeared to be fouled by Richarlison in midfield. Spotting Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya off his line, Sarr lofted an audacious lob over him that found the net, representing Spurs’ only shot on target in the match.
Despite Arsenal dominating the second half and generating pressure, including introducing their new €73 million signing Viktor Gyökeres for the final 13 minutes, they failed to find an equalizer. Arsenal had early opportunities too, such as a header by William Saliba and moments of pressure from Bukayo Saka and Martinelli, but Tottenham’s defense and the inefficiency in Arsenal’s finishing kept the scoreline intact.
The match was physical and intense, with Tottenham hitting the woodwork three times and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya having some difficult moments dealing with corners. Spurs also had players like Richarlison and Wilson Odobert testing the Arsenal defense. The game featured spirited North London derby rivalries, including some heated exchanges between players and coaching staff on the sidelines.
Key points and players:
Pape Matar Sarr: Brilliant long-distance goal and influential performance in midfield, securing Tottenham’s victory and the win for new manager Thomas Frank, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou.
Viktor Gyökeres: Made his Arsenal debut off the bench but had limited involvement with only two touches.
David Raya: Faced challenges from the Spurs attack but made key saves to keep Arsenal in the game.
Arsenal’s second-half dominance: Despite controlling possession and pressure, Arsenal couldn’t convert chances.
The result ended Arsenal’s Asia pre-season tour on a disappointing note, while Tottenham kickstarted their preparations with a significant derby win abroad.
