Pape Matar Sarr scored from the halfway line as Tottenham punished a shaky performance by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to win the first north London derby staged outside the UK 1-0 on Thursday.
Raya, who had already been caught in no-man’s land twice as inswinging corners hit the post, was at fault again in the 45th minute when Sarr robbed Myles Lewis-Skelly just inside the Arsenal half.
The Spurs midfielder looked up, saw Raya stranded way outside his penalty area and let fly to score in outrageous fashion from 50 yards out.
“It was fantastic, fantastic. Well taken,” said new Tottenham manager Thomas Frank of the goal.
“And all the credit to Papa. He’s impressed me, I must admit he’s been really good in the last four weeks.”
Nominally a pre-season “friendly”, there was no love lost on the pitch between the bitter rivals.
Tackles flew in and tempers frayed in a fiercely contested clash in front of a 49,975 sellout crowd under the roof in the air-conditioned Kai Tak Stadium.
Sarr’s screamer gave Frank the north London bragging rights, at least until the pair clash again in the Premier League on November 22 at the Emirates Stadium.
