Kai Tak Sports Park witnessed history on Thursday as Tottenham Hotspur claimed a 1-0 preseason victory over Arsenal in the first-ever overseas North London derby, with Pape Matar Sarr's first-half lob securing the win before a record crowd of 49,975—surpassing the previous attendance mark set by Liverpool vs AC Milan last weekend.
The Gunners dominated early chances, with captain Martin Ødegaard's 4th-minute corner routine setting up William Saliba's glancing header that flashed just wide.
Spurs responded immediately as Pedro Porro's corner in the 9th minute skimmed the far post, with Richarlison missing a point-blank header in the 28th minute from another dangerous delivery.
The breakthrough came in the 44th minute when Sarr intercepted Myles Lewis-Skelly's pass in midfield and audaciously lobbed the advancing David Raya from 35 yards, sending Spurs into halftime with the lead.
Arsenal pushed for an equalizer after the break, with Kai Havertz threading a 57th-minute pass to Gabriel Martinelli, whose first-time strike rattled the crossbar.
Spurs nearly doubled their advantage in the 65th minute when Micky van de Ven's powerful header drifted inches wide.
Both managers utilized their benches, introducing new signings—Arsenal's Victor Gyökeres and Zubimendi, while Spurs brought on Son Heung-min.
The Spanish midfielder Zubimendi came closest with a 68th-minute long-range effort deflected wide, but the Gunners couldn't find the breakthrough against their rivals.
