THERE was a consolation of sorts as Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka made his first appearance since his penalty miss heartbreak during the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, as Tottenham won the north London derby 1-0 on Sunday. 

A rasping 79th-minute goal by Son Heung Min was enough to seal victory for new Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo, to cap a poor pre-season for Mikel Arteta and his squad. 

Wantaway star striker Harry Kane was once again missing, but Spurs captain Hugo Lloris and Davinson Sanchez started for the first time this summer, while a lively Dele Alli shone in hitting the post twice. 

Bernd Leno started for the Gunners, along with £50 million defensive arrival Ben White and new midfielder Sambi Lokonga, while Emile Smith Rowe featured in an attacking trident with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they supplemented Alex Lacazette up front. 

Yet, under their new head coach’s first home game, Spurs had the better chances in a first half in which otherwise Arsenal mostly dominated.

Espirito Santo’s side could have gone ahead early on when Son was foiled by Leno bravely blocking with his legs from close range, prior to Alli thudding the inside of the post. 

With rumours refusing to subside over Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham’s joining the Gunners, striker Lacazette looked lively, volleying over following a Kieran Tierney cross, while also clipping the post with a low shot on the half hour.

Saka made his first appearance since his failed Three Lions spot-kick shortly after the interval, replacing Aubameyang, before a raft of substitutions stalled the tempo that was building nicely. 

In a rare short of solidarity between these deadly rivals — with Arsenal supporters not allowed to purchase tickets — the talented teenager received a round of applause from fans in a display of support against the racism the 19-year-old suffered following Euro 2020. 

However, despite the heartening show of unity against discrimination from Spurs fans towards Saka, there is no such thing as a “friendly” north London derby. 

This was confirmed by the impressive Son firing past Leno in a crowded box, following persistence down the right by Japhet Tanganga, as the home side clinched victory in front of 25,000 in N17.

Speaking after the match, Arteta said: “It was a great test to play that type of game before starting [the season]. 

“I think the game had different phases, 10 minutes when we had some problems with our high press and we were a little bit disorganised, after that we got control of the game and dominated it. 

“We had some big chances but didn’t score and they had one big chance and they didn’t score. Second half, it was very interrupted with the amount of substitutions that happened so to get a flow in the game is more difficult and the game was decided in an action where we made a mistake and we got punished.”

With kingpin Kane rumoured to depart to Manchester City, Spurs will be hoping for a resurgence during the forthcoming campaign from Alli, who they hope will dovetail as well with Son as he did in this match. 

As the clock ticked down there was still time for Eric Dier to clip Leno’s bar from 25 yards out as his late free-kick flew just over.

No wonder delighted Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg said afterwards: “The talent in this team is incredible. The only thing we need to work on is bringing our mentality forward. To be consistent in our work and behaviour every day.”

For their part, Arsenal must improve if they want to avoid an opening night failure at newly promoted Brentford when the Premier League restarts later this week after back-to-back defeats by London sides. 

Yet with this disappointing defeat in the north London derby, following on from the loss to Chelsea last weekend, it promises to be a worrying Friday the 13th against the Bees, in Arsenal’s next — and most important — derby so far during this frustrating summer for Gunners fans.