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Arsenal beaten by Tottenham as Gyokeres makes debut

Costly new Gunners recruit takes to pitch as new research shows fans need to work more than 50 hours to afford a season ticket

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min (right) battles for the ball with Arsenal's Ben White during a friendly soccer match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur, July 31, 2025, at the Hong Kong Football Festival at the Kai Tak Stadium

ARSENAL’S new forward Viktor Gyokeres experienced defeat on his debut today 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 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.

Despite Arsenal splashing out £55 million on Gyokeres, new research has revealed that Arsenal fans must work the longest to afford their team’s season ticket, with supporters needing to put in over 50 hours of work based on average UK wages.

The study by sports betting experts Bet Clever analysed season ticket prices for the 2025/26 Premier League season and compared them to the average hourly wage nationally (£22.47) and in each club’s local authority to determine how many hours fans need to work to follow their team.

Arsenal has the most expensive season ticket at £1,127, requiring fans across the UK to work 50.16 hours to afford it. This is followed by second-placed Chelsea, where supporters need to work 39.16 hours to purchase an £880 season ticket.

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