Tottenham Edge Arsenal 1-0 in Historic North London Derby Held in Hong Kong

In a groundbreaking event for English football, Tottenham Hotspur secured a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the first-ever North London Derby held outside the United Kingdom. The match took place at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park on July 31, 2025, marking a significant moment in preseason preparations for both clubs.

The decisive moment came from Tottenham's Pape Matar Sarr, who scored a spectacular 40-yard strike, brilliantly lobbing Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya from just inside the center circle. This stunning goal proved to be the difference-maker in a fiercely contested match that carried the intensity and rivalry typical of this historic fixture.

Tottenham's new manager, Thomas Frank, emphasized that this fixture was treated "as no friendly," a sentiment reflected in the competitive and physical nature of the game, which included numerous fouls and spirited contests for possession. One notable incident saw Tottenham's Richarlison narrowly avoid a penalty when the referee waved off a challenge on Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly moments before Sarr's goal.

Arsenal introduced their high-profile summer signing Viktor Gyokeres in this match, debuting their $74 million acquisition who is seen as a potential solution to their goal-scoring challenges from last season. Despite Gyokeres' presence and Arsenal's previous preseason victories against AC Milan and Newcastle, the Gunners were unable to find the back of the net this time.

The preseason fixture, despite the odds of tropical weather, was played under good conditions with only some heavy rain and wind forecasts later. Arsenal and Tottenham's decision to hold this traditional derby in Hong Kong signifies growing efforts to globalize football and engage fans worldwide.

While the match was officially a friendly, both teams clearly approached it with competitive seriousness, as the north London rivalry continues to be a major highlight in the football calendar even during preseason.