Spurs Win First-Ever North London Derby Outside UK
Tottenham Hotspur beat Arsenal 1-0 in Hong Kong, winning the first North London Derby ever played outside the UK. The match was billed as a friendly, but on the pitch, it was anything but a friendly.
Both sets of players treated it like a proper derby. Tackles flew in. Tempers rose. Effort levels were at 100% from the first whistle to the last.
Pape Sarr the Hero
Despite Arsenal dominating the stats — 56% possession, 16 total shots, and 86% pass accuracy — the result went Spurs’ way.
A first-half error by David Raya and youngster Miles Lewis-Skelly opened the door. Pape Sarr capitalized brilliantly, firing a stunning long-range strike from inside Spurs’ half to give them the lead. That moment proved to be the match-winner.
Positives for Arsenal
There were some positives for Mikel Arteta’s side. Fans got their first look at Viktor Gyökeres, who made his debut in red. Also, young Max Dowman impressed again, showing flashes of brilliance in his short second-half cameo.
Momentum Boost for Spurs
This win gives Tottenham a big confidence boost heading into the new season. Beating your biggest rivals — especially in front of a global audience — is always special.
