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| ReutersYonhap News |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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While Son Heung-min played for a short time, Tottenham laughed at the first time outside the UK 'North London Derby'.
Tottenham won 1-0 in a pre-season friendly match against Arsenal at Kaitak Sports Park in Hong Kong on the 31st.
With this victory, Tottenham continued its unbeaten streak with two wins and two draws in four pre-season games. On the other hand, Arsenal's attempt to win three consecutive pre-season games was thwarted by this defeat.
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Son Heung-min, Tottenham's captain, is by far the player who drew attention ahead of the game. Son Heung-min is increasingly interested in his future this summer. Whether to stay under the newly appointed coach Thomas Frank or leave with one year left in the contract is a hot topic. Son Heung-min is expected to decide his future after completing his pre-season visit to Korea, but attention has been heated recently due to LAFC's courtship and Frank's remarks.
"Son Heung-min is here now, and I'm very satisfied with him," Frank said in a press conference before the match against Arsenal. "Son Heung-min is training well. At the last press conference, Son Heung-min also said he was showing great performance", he also said. However, Son Heung-min was listed as a substitute, not a starter. This may be a tactical issue or a choice considering future visit to Korea.
Frank's choice was Son Heung-min's replacement card. Tottenham was built by Wilson O'Dober, Hishalisson, Mohammed Kudus on the front line with a 4-3-3 formation, Lucas Beribal, Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur on the midfield, and Jed Spence, Mickey Panderpen, Christian Romero and Pedro Porro on the defense. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Guglielmo Vicario.
Arsenal opted for a 4-3-3 formation. Coach Mikel Arteta set up Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka at the front line, while Declan Rice, Christian Neurghor and Martin 외deghor worked together in the midfield. The defense was made up of Miles Ruiskeli, Jakub Kivior, William Saliba and Ben White. David Raya kept the goal.
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The team that took the lead early in the game was Arsenal. Arsenal tried to create several attacking opportunities by pressuring Tottenham's defense. Tottenham's offense, without Son Heung-min, aimed for Arsenal's high defensive line back space with a long ball early in the first half. However, both teams rarely had a chance.
Tottenham swallowed the disappointment. In the 27th minute of the first half, Odover, located on the left side of the box, caught the ball that flowed after hitting the defense in front of the penalty box. O'Dober tried to shoot without hesitation in front of the defense, but the ball hit the post. In the ensuing attack, a cross from a corner kick headed to an empty goal, but Hishalisson failed to finish it and missed the opportunity again.
Tottenham scored a fantastic first goal just before the end of the first half. In the 45th minute of the first half, Hishalisson pressed Louis Kelly to win the ball near the half line, and Sarr, who confirmed that the opposing goalkeeper Raya came forward, shook the Arsenal net with an accurate long-range shot. Raya ran in and blew himself away, but it was already late.
Arsenal, who allowed the first run, also fought back. White tried to connect Saka's cross with a header in the second minute of extra time in the first half, but was blocked by Tottenham's defense check. Once again, Havertz finished Rice's kick with a header but was blocked by the defense. The first half ended with Tottenham's 1-0 lead.
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The first side to attack in the second half was Arsenal, who had to go after him. In the 11th minute of the second half, Arsenal stole Romero's ball after the contest in the box and Odegaard tried to shoot, but it was caught by the defense and went high.
Tottenham made its first replacement. In the 18th minute of the second half, excluding Hishalisson, Kudus and Romero, Kevin Danso, Brennan Johnson and Matisse Tell were put in. Son Heung-min and Yang Min-hyuk warmed up, but they were not put in early.
Arsenal kept knocking on Tottenham's goal for the equaliser. Subimendi's mid-range shot in the 23rd minute of the second half was a little off the post. Arsenal made a huge replacement in the 32nd minute of the second half. With the exception of Saka, Kivior, Havertz and Rice, Max Dowman, Christian Mosquera, Mikel Merino and Oleksandar Zinchenko were added. Tottenham also deployed Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min stepped on the field in the 33rd minute of the second half when he was replaced by Wilson Odobert.
Arsenal led the attack even after the replacement. In the 41st minute of the second half, Subimendi tried to shoot from the front of the penalty box, but it was not exactly affected and headed out of the box.
Arsenal continued to seek a chance to tie the game until second-half stoppage time, but Tottenham's defense was not breached.
In the end, the game ended with Tottenham's 1-0 victory. Son Heung-min played about 20 minutes, including extra time, but failed to score an offensive point.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
