Arsenal send emotional message to fans who travelled to Hong Kong to watch loss v Tottenham
Tottenham continued their great pre-season campaign with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal.
It was the first North London derby on foreign soil, with Kai Tak Sports Park hosting the match.
Thomas Frank’s side were excellent throughout, with Pape Matar Sarr netting the only goal of the match from nearly the halfway line.
In comparison, there was little to be happy with if you were an Arsenal fan.
Arsenal thank travelling fans for their support in Hong Kong
The Premier League runners-up with have been expecting a win against Tottenham given their contrasting domestic performances last season.
However, the Gunners barely laid a glove on Frank’s side, and Spurs could have easily been a few ahead in the first half.
While Arsenal fans were annoyed with the referee’s decision to allow Sarr’s goal, it was a deserved defeat.
- Tottenham are yet to lose a pre-season tie this summer
- Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Spurs was the Gunners’ first loss in 90 minutes this summer
- The first Premier League North London derby of the 2025/26 campaign is scheduled for 22 November
It was not the performance many travelling fans would have hoped for, with Viktor Gyokeres’ emergence from the bench perhaps being the only highlight.
Now, Arsenal have sent a message to the supporters who went to the match via X (31 July).
It simply read: “Thank you for the brilliant support in Hong Kong, Gooners.”
Tottenham have closed the gap on Arsenal
While it may only be pre-season, it is clear that Tottenham are closing the quality gap on Arsenal.
Spurs’ leaky defence under Ange Postecoglou seemed to vanish, with the Gunners finding no way through Frank’s backline.
| Match stats | Arsenal | Tottenham |
| Possession | 55% | 45% |
| Shots | 15 | 9 |
| Big chances | 1 | 1 |
| Corners | 12 | 4 |
The work the Dane has done so far this summer deserves heavy praise, especially if these performances translate into quick results when the competitive season begins.
Hopefully, Tottenham will now challenge for Europe once again through the Premier League, and won’t have to rely on cup competitions to ensure the campaign is not a disaster.
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