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.
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