Tottenham edged past Arsenal 1-0, with Sarr's stunning goal overshadowing Gyokeres' debut performance
In a thrilling pre-season friendly between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in Singapore, Pape Matar Sarr shone brightly as the match-winner in a 1-0 victory for Spurs at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong.
Sarr, a midfielder making his debut under Thomas Frank, scored the only goal of the game with a stunning long-range strike just before half-time. His goal, launched over the head of David Raya from close to the halfway line, earned him the Player of the Match honors and was hailed as "the goal of the season" by Frank.
Despite Arsenal having a higher expected goals (xG) of 1.03 compared to Tottenham's 0.34, Spurs' defensive solidity was remarkable. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario had very little work to do, indicating a strong midfield and defensive structure, partly led by Sarr.
Sarr's impressive performance in the match was also highlighted by the fact that he was the only player from Spurs to have a shot on target, and he completed 95.5% of his passes, the highest among Spurs' starters. Additionally, Sarr won all of his tackles during the match, demonstrating his dominance in the midfield.
The victory in this friendly extended Tottenham's unbeaten pre-season run and secured the Herbalgy Trophy, further reflecting the positive impact of Sarr and Frank's management beginnings. Viktor Gyokeres made his debut for Tottenham late in the second half, adding to the excitement of the match.
As the pre-season continues, Sarr's performances under Frank have established him as a staple in Tottenham’s midfield, with continued praise cementing his growing importance to the squad. Spurs will play Newcastle in the next leg of their Asia tour, while Mikel Arteta's side will face Villarreal in their next friendly.
[1] Tottenham Hotspur FC Official Website
[2] The Athletic
[3] ESPN FC
In the aftermath of Tottenham Hotspur's pre-season friendly against Arsenal, Sarr's exceptional performance was recognized as he scored the match-winning goal, was named Player of the Match, and was hailed as a potential 'Goal of the Season' candidate. Sarr's impressive display, marked by his 95.5% pass completion rate, dominance in the midfield, and mastery of tackles, suggests a promising future in European-leagues, particularly in the Premier League, where he is gradually becoming a crucial component of Spurs' midfield.
