Declan Rice had to apologise to his Arsenal teammate after something that happened during the first-half of the defeat to Tottenham.
Arsenal’s Asia tour ended with a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in a pre-season friendly at Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong, on July 31, 2025.
A stunning halfway-line goal from Pape Matar Sarr exposed defensive lapses, leaving Mikel Arteta with concerns ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The Gunners dominated possession but struggled to convert, managing just one shot on target. Sarr’s 45th-minute lob, capitalising on Myles Lewis-Skelly’s midfield error and David Raya’s poor positioning, proved decisive.
READ MORE: Player Ratings: Arsenal 0-1 Tottenham
Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario faced little pressure, as Arsenal’s attack, featuring Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli, lacked sharpness. Spurs hit the woodwork twice from corners, highlighting Arsenal’s set-piece vulnerabilities.
A first-half moment underscored Arsenal’s frustrations. Declan Rice, playing as a left-sided No. 8, received the ball on the flank with Martinelli in a prime central position for a tap-in.
Rice’s attempted pass deflected off a Spurs defender for a corner, prompting Martinelli to throw his hands up in disappointment. Rice, spotting his teammate’s reaction, raised his hands apologetically, as reported by Arsenal Insider.
The incident reflected Martinelli’s ongoing struggles, with the Brazilian managing only one shot, skied over the bar, before being substituted.