Tottenham Top Arsenal in Singapore as Gyokeres Debuts and Dowman Shines
Pre-season matches aren’t supposed to make or break a club, but Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat against Tottenham still stings for fans hoping their side was ready for the season ahead. Played in Singapore, this North London derby wasn’t your typical high-stakes showdown, but it gave plenty to talk about—especially for those watching Viktor Gyokeres make his Arsenal debut and 15-year-old Max Dowman light up the second half.
The big talking point was Pape Sarr’s stunning goal. With Arsenal’s defense in a tangle, Sarr took advantage of the chaos between keeper David Raya and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly. Raya got caught out way too far from his line, Lewis-Skelly misjudged the pass, and the ball rocketed off Sarr’s boot from just outside the center circle. It was one of those goals that makes you shake your head at the defending almost as much as you marvel at the strike.
Let’s talk about Arsenal’s defense, or maybe the lack of it. With regular starters Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes missing, manager Mikel Arteta turned to Ben White and William Saliba at the back. But neither looked settled, especially early on. Spurs pressed hard, pounced on Arsenal’s errors, and nearly made it 2-0 before the break. Defensive frailties were all too obvious, leaving fans a little worried with the Premier League just around the corner.
On the attacking side, all eyes were on Viktor Gyokeres, the Swedish signing expected to bring some bite up front. He barely got a sniff in the first half; Arsenal’s midfield couldn’t string anything together to set him up. The usual suspects—Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard—were out of sync, and Kai Havertz spent most of the match isolated and frustrated, unable to get involved in any meaningful way.
Dowman's Surprise Impact and What We Learned
Things took a turn after halftime when Max Dowman stepped onto the pitch. At just 15 years old, Dowman had no fear running at Tottenham’s defense. His direct running gave Arsenal a spark, and for a brief spell, it looked like the Gunners might find a way back. Dowman’s energy unsettled Spurs, forcing them to drop deeper and defend in numbers. Still, Arsenal just couldn’t break them down, and Hugo Lloris—now a steady veteran—dealt comfortably with the few shots that did come his way.
Tottenham’s tactics were clearly different this summer, with Ange Postecoglou gone and a more conservative approach keeping things tight at the back. It paid off, not just for the scoreboard but for the confidence of a side that hadn’t beaten Arsenal in a friendly since 2019. This was no ‘free-flowing’ Tottenham; instead, they relied on patience and discipline, making life tough for Arsenal’s forwards.
Before the match, optimism was high among Arsenal supporters. The bookmakers had them tipped to win 2-1, thanks to good results against Newcastle and AC Milan earlier in the tour. But friendlies have a habit of serving up surprises, and Arsenal’s unbeaten run in Asia ended with more questions than answers—especially at the back. It’s a reminder that preseason form isn’t always a preview of what’s to come once the real games kick off.
Arsenal fans will be hoping the issues on show in Singapore are just early-season cobwebs— because the stakes get a whole lot higher from here.
Posts Comments
PRATIKHYA SWAIN August 3, 2025 AT 11:37
At least Dowman showed some spark. That kid’s got guts. Hope he gets more minutes.
MAYANK PRAKASH August 4, 2025 AT 03:59
Honestly? This is why we need to stop treating friendlies like finals. Arsenal’s still finding their rhythm. Give it time.
Akash Mackwan August 5, 2025 AT 01:01
Arteta’s defense is a joke. Raya and Lewis-Skelly looked like they’ve never played together. This isn’t preseason, this is a warning sign. We’re doomed.
Amar Sirohi August 5, 2025 AT 16:06
You know, football is more than just goals and tackles-it’s a mirror of societal structure. The chaos in Arsenal’s backline? It reflects our collective inability to communicate, to trust, to synchronize. Sarr’s goal wasn’t just a strike-it was a metaphysical rupture in the illusion of control we call modern football. We build systems, we hire coaches, we sign stars… but when the ball rolls, the human condition reveals itself. And right now? Arsenal’s soul is fractured. Gyokeres didn’t fail-he was never given a chance to breathe. The midfield didn’t lose cohesion-it lost its will to believe. And Max Dowman? He’s the only one who remembered how to play for joy.
Nagesh Yerunkar August 6, 2025 AT 10:46
This is what happens when you let foreigners run your club. 😔 Where are the real English lads? Arteta’s system is all theory, no heart. And now we’re playing in Singapore? 🤦♂️ Next it’ll be in Mars. #SaveArsenal
Daxesh Patel August 7, 2025 AT 06:34
Wait, was it Lewis-Skelly or Lewis-Skelly? Spelling might be off but the point stands-defensive coordination was a mess. Also, Gyokeres looked off the pace. Maybe he needs more time to adapt to the league’s tempo? Also, did anyone notice how often Saka drifted inside? That’s not a bug, that’s a feature.
Jinky Palitang August 9, 2025 AT 05:20
Dowman was 🔥 honestly. 15 and already playing like he owns the pitch. That’s the future right there. Also, Saliba looked like he forgot he was a defender. 😅
Sandeep Kashyap August 10, 2025 AT 20:18
I KNOW it hurts. I really do. But listen-this is PRESEASON. Look at Dowman. Look at how the squad is mixing. Look at how the young ones are stepping up. This isn’t defeat. This is a lesson wrapped in sweat and adrenaline. We’re building something bigger than one match. The heart is there. The grit is there. We just need to keep pushing. Believe. Believe. BELIEVE. 🙌
Aashna Chakravarty August 12, 2025 AT 02:40
Let’s be real-this was all planned. The ‘defensive chaos’? The ‘young kid shining’? The ‘preseason friendly’? All fake. They’re testing crowd reactions. Why else would they play in Singapore? To distract us from the real issues: the ownership, the money laundering, the hidden investors pushing for a new league. They want us distracted by Gyokeres and Dowman while they quietly sell the club to a Saudi consortium. Wake up. This isn’t football. It’s propaganda.
Kashish Sheikh August 13, 2025 AT 13:13
Dowman gave me chills 😭✨ He’s the kind of kid who reminds you why you fell in love with football. And hey, even if the defense looked shaky, at least they’re trying new things. Let’s cheer the kids, support the rebuild, and not panic over one friendly. We got this 💪❤️ #ArsenalFamily
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