Arsenal 0-1 Tottenham: Sarr stunner hands Spurs half-time lead as Gyokeres watches on from the bench

Viktor Gyokeres watched on from the bench as Arsenal trailed Tottenham at half-time in the first North London Derby to be staged on foreign soil – Pape Sarr scoring a wonder goal just before the break.

Arsenal had already ridden their luck before Sarr opened the scoring after seizing on an error from Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Gunners goalkeeper David Raya came out of his goal to play a short pass to the England full-back but he was dispossessed by Sarr who casually chipped the ball 40 yards over Raya and into the empty net.

It was no more than Spurs deserved after they hit the woodwork three times in a feisty encounter in Hong Kong.

Arsenal start strongly

Arsenal flew out of the blocks with Martin Odegaard seeing a shot deflected wide inside the opening 40 seconds.

William Saliba then headed narrowly wide after Odegaard’s scuffed shot fell kindly for him in the box.

Spurs hadn’t got going at all but Thomas Frank’s men almost conjured up a goal from their first attack of note.

Pedro Porro’s corner drifted across the six-yard box and against the far post with Richarlison’s follow-up blocked.

Spurs were left to rue their bad luck twice more around the half-hour mark.

First Wilson Odobert’s shot from the edge of the box struck the upright and, from the resulting corner, Mohammed Kudus’ delivery came back off the post in a near carbon-copy of the earlier effort.

It seemed there would be no goals in an entertaining opening 45 minutes but Sarr made the most of his opportunity to hand Spurs a deserved lead.

Arteta must now decide whether to turn to new signing Gyokeres as Arsenal seek a route back into the game.