Kowloon, Hong Kong – Na here we see am, as Tottenham Hotspur carry the day against their North London rivals, Arsenal, for di first-ever North London derby wey dey happen outside di UK. Na pre-season friendly dis one, but e get as e be when two rivals meet na for football.
Di match kick off for 7:30 p.m. local time, and e no take time to see wetin dem players fit do. First half end with Tottenham leading 1-0 thanks to Pape Sarr wey score from way far. E no just score; dat goal make everybody wan fight for dem table stake (ppheww, make we no go talk say we sabi too much).
Arsenal start with di ginger! Dem look sharp for di early minutes, but dem no fit convert any chance into goal. Saka dey collect knock, and dey take treatment, so na cooling break dem come use take advantage of di situation. Every player dey try to secure di bag for this friendly before di season start proper.
For di first half, Tottenham don hit di post three times. Dem truly show say dem wan come out strong this season. Na Sarr wey sabi dance for field, score dat lob over Arsenal keeper David Raya from almost di halfway line. E clear say di Gunners need better defensive tactics before di proper game start.
As di match dey go, Arsenal decide say dem no fit sit down dey look, so Mikel Arteta make some substitutions wan change di friction. Victor Gyokeres finally come on for his debut! E don occupy bench for a while, but na him time to shine dey land. Na im dem dey hope say go resurrect dem forward play.
Arsenal fans dey jubilate as dem spirit dey high, but dem need to wake up fast! Arsenal dey create chances, but no be every shot dey go as dem plan am. One time, Havertz try set somtin up, but di ball just dey float away like early morning breeze.
Meanwhile, di Spurs na dem enjoy di upper hand for this match. Frank dey manage dem squad well; changes dey come in, and he fit keep di rhythm steady. As dem enter di last quarter of di match, Arsenal numerous subs no fit fire fast enough to change di narrative. Trossard just come on and immediately dey struggle with injury. Reiss Nelson na di replacement. (Na wah! No be football, na damage control.)
As di match dey nears di end, Arsenal dey push for an equalizer, with foul after foul committed for dey trying to win every ball. Dem finally earn corner but nothing concrete fit come out of am. Plenty fans don show up, even in di heat, just for this encounter wey don give dem grounds for bragging rights for di new season.
Match dey go finish, we still dey yarn story. As di whistle blow, Spurs carry di day with di only goal. But e go also serve as wake-up call for Arsenal make dem do beta recruitment before di Premier League kick off. Di result fit be friendly, but na once you don taste dis kind local rivalry, tink e go dey easy for dem to accept? Abeg! Make we keep our eyes open as di season dey approach.
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