Spurs beat Arsenal in the first North London derby outside England | OneFootball

Tottenham claimed bragging rights with a 1–0 victory over Arsenal in Hong Kong, as the two North London rivals met outside the UK in a competitive pre-season encounter.

Despite all the anticipation surrounding Viktor Gyökeres’ debut, it was Spurs who made the decisive impact in a closely fought match. Arsenal had the better of the early exchanges, yet it was Tottenham who struck at the perfect moment to seal the result.

Arsenal Dominate Early But Fail to Convert

Mikel Arteta’s side started brightly, showing attacking intent and enjoying long spells of possession. They created several openings, but lacked a clinical edge in front of goal. With Gyökeres starting on the bench, the Gunners missed the kind of cutting presence he is expected to provide this season.

Spurs were largely on the back foot in the opening stages but remained threatening on the break. They hit the post three times as Arsenal continued to press forward, and their resilience was eventually rewarded.

Just before the interval, Pape Sarr spotted David Raya off his line and produced a stunning long-range effort that flew into the net, giving Tottenham the lead against the run of play.

(Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Gyokeres Makes Debut but Cannot Rescue Result

Arsenal re-emerged after the break determined to restore parity. They controlled possession for large periods of the second half and worked hard to create clear-cut chances. However, a breakthrough never came.

Late in the match, Arteta introduced Viktor Gyokeres for his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt. The Swede, who scored nearly 100 goals over two seasons at Sporting Club, was brought on to make an impact, but Spurs stood firm defensively.

Arsenal’s frustrations were compounded by several knocks picked up during the match, and despite their dominance in many areas of the pitch, it was Tottenham who held on for the win.

While Gyokeres did not find the net on his debut, his minutes on the pitch offered a glimpse of what he may bring. For now, however, it is Spurs who return home with the pre-season bragging rights.