Some fans may argue that there is no such thing as a pre-season friendly when it comes down to the North London Derby between Tottenham and Arsenal. 

Players from both squads understand the rivalry perfectly, and the Spurs and Gunners went at it for 90 minutes in their respective pre-season finale. 

Heung-Min Son's lone-goal gave Spurs the victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as the confidence seems high ahead of the start of the season.  

Story of the game

Less than a week to begin the 2021 / 22 Premier League campaign, and both Nuno Espírito Santo and Mikel Arteta decided to send to the pitch their strongest available sides.

As expected, since it is a North London Derby, there was a lot of hard tackling and constant discussions between the players and the referee following certain decisions.

In the first half both teams showed a lot of energy, but it was Arsenal who had the most chances, with striker Alexander Lacazette missing three clear chances that could've easily put his team up in the scoreboard. 

On the other side Dele Alli had the biggest chance of the half for Spurs, and after a great run by Heung-Min Son, the midfielder missed a one-on-one inside the box play with Bernd Leno that would hit the post. 

That wouldn't be the only Dele chance in the game, as he hit the post in the start of the second half following a great flick by Davinson Sánchez from a Son's cross. 

Spurs would break the tie with only 10 minutes to be played in the game, as a great individual effort by Japhet Tanganga set up 'Sonny' perfectly to give the home side the lead. 

Son would end up being substituted by Espírito Santo, who gave the opportunity to academy starboy, Dane Scarlett to play in his first senior North London Derby. 

Tottenham finished pre-season having played a total of five games and recording three wins along with two draws. 

Reactions

“The talent in this team is incredible,'' Pierre-Emile Hojberg said after the game. ''The only thing we need to work on is bringing our mentality forward. To be consistent in our work and behaviour everyday!"

“To dare is to do keeps repeating in my mind - to dare is to do. I love it,'' Nuno Espírito Santo added. “I love the motto. It is what we want to do. We want to try things. To dare to do, to be unique. I love it.”