Arsenal beaten by Tottenham as Viktor Gyokeres makes debut

Arsenal’s new £55million forward Viktor Gyokeres experienced defeat on his debut after he was unable to prevent his new club losing 1-0 to north London rivals Tottenham in Hong Kong.

Gyokeres was named on the bench by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta days after being able to seal a big-money transfer to the Premier League club.

Arteta turned to Gyokeres with 14 minutes left of the friendly and with Arsenal behind after Pape Sarr’s long-range effort on the stroke of half-time, but Swedish forward Gyokeres was a largely isolated figure and failed to stop a 1-0 loss.

After a flurry of early Arsenal set-pieces in the first north London derby to be played outside of England, Spurs’ Pedro Porro hit the post in the ninth minute direct from a corner.

Wilson Odobert and Richarlison also struck the woodwork for Tottenham during a first half which seemed destined to end goalless until Sarr’s sublime intervention.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya raced out to pass to Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was dispossessed and Sarr was alert to chip into the empty net from close to the halfway line in the 45th minute.

Chances were few and far between in the second half before Arteta turned to his bench after Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and summer recruit Martin Zubimendi had been wasteful in front of goal.

Gyokeres was introduced for Havertz in the 76th minute and while he fashioned a late missed chance for Zubimendi, the former Sporting Lisbon attacker’s first appearance for Arsenal ended in defeat.