Cristian Romero embarrasses Kai Havertz as Viktor Gyokeres avoids Arsenal disaster vs Tottenham

Pape Matar Sarr was the hero as Tottenham claimed early 2025/26 bragging rights over North London Derby rivals Arsenal in Hong Kong.

Spurs gave as good as they got in the pre-season tour clash with their fierce rivals, giving Thomas Frank and the supporters something to enjoy ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign.

It was a feisty encounter - with no North London Derby ever able to be deemed as a friendly between the two rivals - with Spurs coming out on top thanks to a special Pape Matar Sarr goal to nil.

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Pouncing on a Myles Lewis-Skelly mistake and with David Raya well outside his area, Sarr fired a superb effort from just inside the Arsenal half into the back of the unguarded net.

Both sides had other chances, but a good defensive display from Tottenham secured the win and handed Arsenal their first defeat of pre-season.

There was plenty of entertainment for the fans inside the Kai Tak Stadium and for those watching on at home too. But one particular moment will have had all fans of a Tottenham persuasion cheering and laughing.

No, it was not the moment when Pedro Porro shoved Mikel Arteta to get him out of the way as he tried to take a throw-in, with the Arsenal boss, as he often is, outside of his technical area.

It was something captain Cristian Romero did in the first half of the clash.

Following an Arsenal attack, Romero found himself with the ball at his feet in his own penalty area. Rather than panicking, the Argentinian was cool, calm and collected, and as Havertz rushed at him and slid in to win the ball, Romero sidestepped the challenge, shifting the ball onto his other foot, sending the German careering into an unassuming Djed Spence.

Romero could then clear the ball with ease, leaving Havertz somewhat embarrassed and Spence potentially hurt!

There had been plenty of talk about how Romero could give new Arsenal signing Viktor Gyokeres an aggressive welcome to England, but neither were on the pitch at the same time with the Swede introduced late on after Romero had gone off.