Tottenham Hotspur have secured the bragging rights in the first-ever overseas North London Derby, defeating Arsenal 1-0 in a hard-fought pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on Thursday.
The match was decided by a single moment of breathtaking brilliance just before halftime. After Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly was dispossessed in his own half, Spurs midfielder Pape Matar Sarr looked up, spotted David Raya off his line, and launched a stunning, audacious lob from 50 yards out that sailed perfectly into the back of the net.
Despite the spectacular nature of the winning goal, the 1-0 scoreline was arguably flattering for Arsenal at the break. A dominant Tottenham side were incredibly unlucky not to have been further ahead, having struck the woodwork three separate times in the first half alone.
The Gunners, who had won their previous two friendlies against AC Milan and Newcastle, dominated the early possession but struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities from open play and looked vulnerable throughout the match.
In the closing stages, manager Mikel Arteta handed a much-anticipated unofficial debut to his blockbuster new signing, Viktor Gyökeres. However, the Swedish striker was unable to conjure up any late magic to find an equaliser for his new team.
The result marks a disappointing first defeat of the pre-season for Arsenal, serving as a reality check. For Tottenham, however, it’s the perfect way to begin their brief tour of Asia, securing a memorable victory over their bitter rivals.