Last updated on August 13, 2025
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Spurs edged Arsenal 1-0 thanks to a moment of brilliance.
Image credit: Arsenal
Tottenham came out victorious over Arsenal in a heated preseason North London Derby, played far away from London — in Hong Kong.
But beyond the result, the question every Arsenal fan is asking is simple: Why did we lose today?
The Match at a Glance
In front of nearly 50,000 fans at Kai Tak Stadium, Spurs edged Arsenal 1-0 thanks to a moment of brilliance — or madness, depending on which side you’re on.
Pape Matar Sarr lobbed David Raya from inside the halfway line, a jaw-dropping strike that stunned Arsenal and ultimately decided the contest.
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Key Reasons Arsenal Lost
1. Sarr’s Stunner: One Moment of Brilliance
The game’s only goal wasn’t born out of flowing football or intricate build-up. It came from sheer audacity.
Spurs midfielder Pape Matar Sarr spotted David Raya off his line and fired an outrageous long-range effort that floated into the net.
Arsenal were left stunned — not just by the goal, but by the silence of VAR and the referee, who waved away appeals for a foul in the build-up.
Whether or not it should’ve stood, it did — and it changed the tone of the match.
2. Shaky Set-Piece Defending
Arsenal may have had more of the ball, but Tottenham looked the more threatening from corners and free kicks.
They hit the woodwork multiple times, exposing Arsenal’s vulnerability when defending aerial balls — a worry that continues to haunt Arteta’s side from last season.
3. No End Product in Final Third
Despite dominating second-half possession, Arsenal lacked penetration.
Martinelli and Saka were closely marked, and the midfield trio failed to break the lines with any consistency.
Viktor Gyökeres, Arsenal’s new signing, came on late but didn’t have enough time to impact the game.
Simply put, Arsenal had the ball but not the bite.
4. Spurs’ Defensive Discipline
Credit where it’s due — Thomas Frank has drilled Tottenham into a well-organized unit.
They allowed Arsenal to pass around the middle third but held their shape brilliantly in the danger zone.
It was classic contain-and-counter, and it worked.
Arsenal’s Struggles — At a Glance
| Factor | Impact on Result |
|---|---|
| Long-range Goal | Sarr’s outrageous strike caught Raya off his line |
| Set-piece Trouble | Spurs hit the bar twice from corners; Arsenal looked shaky |
| Possession Control | Dominated the ball but lacked cutting edge |
| Defensive Frailty | One error punished; minimal threat from Arsenal forwards |
Should Fans Be Worried?
Not just yet. It’s preseason. But there are warning signs — the kind that don’t vanish overnight.
A keeper caught out of position, vulnerability on set-pieces, and a lack of cutting edge in attack are things no elite side should carry into a new campaign.
Tottenham took their chance. Arsenal didn’t. And that’s why they lost.
Final Whistle
The defeat in Hong Kong may not affect league points, but it tells a story.
