In a surprising turn of events, Tottenham Hotspur secured a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in a pre-season friendly held in Singapore. The match saw Thomas Frank claim his first north London derby win, thanks to a sensational goal from Pape Sarr.
Sarr's stunning strike, launched from just inside Arsenal's half, proved to be the decisive moment in a match that marked the first encounter between the two rivals outside of the United Kingdom. The Senegalese midfielder's audacious effort sailed over the head of Arsenal's goalkeeper, David Raya, catching him off guard and nestling into the net.
Tottenham had previously been denied by the woodwork on three separate occasions in the first half, highlighting their attacking intent. Despite Arsenal creating more chances throughout the game, they struggled to penetrate Tottenham's resilient defense. Kai Havertz managed Arsenal's only shot on target in the 70th minute.
The match also saw the debut of Viktor Gyokeres for Arsenal, who entered the field in the latter stages of the second half. However, the Swedish forward was unable to make a significant impact, as Tottenham successfully defended their lead to claim the win.
Statistically, Arsenal dominated with an expected goals (xG) of 1.03 compared to Tottenham's 0.34, however in friendly games statistics don't always tell the truth.
Following the match, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal squad will return to England to prepare for their upcoming friendly against Villarreal. Meanwhile, Tottenham will continue their Asia tour with a fixture against Newcastle.
Sarr's outstanding performance extended beyond his stunning goal. Throughout the match, Sarr showcased his defensive prowess, winning 100% of his tackles. Winning possession in midfield and starting the move for the goal.
