Sarr’s Incredible Goal Gives Tottenham 1-0 Pre-Season Win Over Arsenal

A breathtaking long-range strike from Pape Matar Sarr was enough to give Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 win over North London rivals Arsenal on Thursday, securing the Herbalgy Trophy in a match that promised much but was ultimately decided by a single moment of brilliance.

In a cagey and often tactical pre-season affair at a sold-out Kai Tak Stadium, Sarr produced the game’s only goal just before half-time. Following a robust challenge in midfield that left Arsenal appealing for a foul, the Senegalese international looked up and launched a perfectly executed lob from nearly 45 yards, catching goalkeeper David Raya stranded and sealing the derby spoils for Spurs.

While the fixture lacked the typical intensity of a competitive North London derby, the tactical fingerprints of Tottenham’s new manager, Thomas Frank, were evident. Spurs were content to concede possession for long spells, remaining in a compact and disciplined defensive shape that a possession-heavy but ultimately toothless Arsenal side could not break down.

For all their control of the ball, Mikel Arteta’s side looked short of ideas in the final third. They moved the ball neatly up to the edge of the Tottenham area before their attacks invariably broke down, a narrative reflected in the final statistics. Despite attempting 16 shots, the Gunners forced goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario into just a single save all evening.

The match saw a quiet debut for Arsenal’s new £64 million forward Viktor Gyokeres, who was introduced late in the second half but was largely isolated as his team searched in vain for an equaliser. To compound a frustrating evening for Arteta, both Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard were withdrawn after picking up knocks, which the club will be anxious to assess ahead of the new Premier League season.

For Spurs, the victory represents an encouragingly resilient performance under their new leadership. For Arsenal, it serves as a timely reminder that for all their progress, turning territorial dominance into goals remains a critical challenge to overcome.