Match ends, Arsenal 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2.
Tottenham came from behind twice to secure a hard-earned point in the north London derby against Arsenal in a thriller at Emirates Stadium.
In a relentless encounter, Arsenal took the lead after 26 minutes when Bukayo Saka's shot was deflected into his own goal by Spurs defender Cristian Romero.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had made the big decision by keeping David Raya in of goal ahead of Aaron Ramsdale and he justified that faith with two fine saves from Brennan Johson as Spurs went in pursuit of an equaliser.
Raya should have done better, however, when Spurs levelled three minutes before half-time. He could only claw away a cross allowing an attack to continue, ending with James Maddison crossing for Son Heung-min to equalise with a deft finish.
Arsenal restored their lead after 54 minutes when Romero was penalised for handball following the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee, Saka scoring from the spot.
Spurs, illustrating their new positive approach under manager Ange Postecoglou in his first north London derby, were back on terms almost instantly when Jorginho, as a half-time substitute for the injured Declan Rice, lost possession to Maddison, who played in Son for another cool finish.
- 'Spurs making big strides under Postecoglou'
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Arsenal left frustrated
The headline news before kick-off was Mikel Arteta's decision to stay with Raya in goal, a move that surely ends the debate about who is Arsenal's number one keeper, the Spaniard getting the nod ahead of England's Ramsdale.
It was a mixed afternoon for Raya, who made two important interventions but was also culpable for Spurs' first equaliser when he should have held a cross, allowing Spurs to maintain pressure and score.
For Arsenal, there will be real frustration in being held to a point and one of the key moments came when they were leading 1-0 and Gabriel Jesus caught James Maddison in possession, only to shoot wildly over the top with just Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario to beat.
Arsenal were never at their most fluent, not helped by losing Rice to injury at half-time, and paid the price when his replacement Jorginho was robbed by Maddison for Spurs' second goal.
The Gunners staged a late show to beat Manchester United but there was no repeat here, even in 10 minutes of added time, and Arteta's side had to settle for a point against their great rivals.
Asked afterwards about Rice's withdrawal, Arteta claimed it was due to a back injury. He said: "Yeah he had some discomfort in his back. He was telling us during the first half that he was uncomfortable. When we assessed him at half time he could not continue so we had to change him."The Spaniard added: "Hopefully not [long-term]. It's strange that a player like him has to come off. So we'll see."
Tottenham show signs of progress
Tottenham's positive and entertaining start to the season under new manager Postecoglou has sparked real optimism but this was the biggest test of the post-Harry Kane era so far.
The upbeat mood will certainly be maintained after the manner in which Spurs not only approached this game, determined not to simply sit back, but also the way in which they responded after going behind twice to come back and earn a point.
Spurs had to suffer under pressure, which was inevitable, but they never buckled and were always prepared to take the opportunity to attack when the opportunity arose.
With the great talisman Kane now at Bayern Munich, Spurs had to look to other areas of creation, other partnerships that could somehow compensate for the absence of the guaranteed goal supply from the England captain.
And they appear to have found it with Maddison and Son, who were at the heart of both Spurs goals - with Maddison the creator and Son the scorer.
The pair seemed tuned into the same wavelength and Spurs were the grateful beneficiaries.
Spurs were equally impressive when Arsenal tried to mount one of their late trademark rallies, resilient at the back but also ready to spring forward even in those added 10 minutes.
There was no doubt which set of supporters were happier as Postecoglou clenched his fists and applauded the Spurs fans banked in a corner of Emirates Stadium after the final whistle.
Player of the match
Son Heung-minSon Heung-min
Arsenal
Avg
- Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
6.52
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
5.88
- Squad number2Player nameSalibaAverage rating
5.69
- Squad number9Player nameGabriel JesusAverage rating
5.55
- Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating
5.52
- Squad number41Player nameRiceAverage rating
5.45
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
5.41
- Squad number35Player nameZinchenkoAverage rating
5.37
- Squad number22Player nameRayaAverage rating
5.34
- Squad number21Player nameFábio VieiraAverage rating
5.09
- Squad number10Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
4.98
- Squad number14Player nameNketiahAverage rating
4.97
- Squad number24Player nameNelsonAverage rating
4.69
- Squad number29Player nameHavertzAverage rating
4.50
- Squad number20Player nameJorginhoAverage rating
4.10
Tottenham Hotspur
Avg
- Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-minAverage rating
7.78
- Squad number10Player nameMaddisonAverage rating
7.30
- Squad number13Player nameVicarioAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number21Player nameKulusevskiAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number8Player nameBissoumaAverage rating
6.67
- Squad number22Player nameJohnsonAverage rating
6.64
- Squad number37Player namevan de VenAverage rating
6.62
- Squad number23Player namePorroAverage rating
6.46
- Squad number38Player nameUdogieAverage rating
6.42
- Squad number29Player nameSarrAverage rating
6.41
- Squad number5Player nameHøjbjergAverage rating
6.39
- Squad number27Player nameSolomonAverage rating
6.29
- Squad number9Player nameRicharlisonAverage rating
6.09
- Squad number17Player nameRomeroAverage rating
6.06
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Raya
- 4White
- 2Saliba
- 6Gabriel
- 35Zinchenko
- 8ØdegaardBooked at 15mins
- 41RiceSubstituted forJorginhoat 45'minutes
- 21Fábio VieiraSubstituted forHavertzat 45'minutesBooked at 57mins
- 7SakaSubstituted forSmith Roweat 90+7'minutes
- 14NketiahBooked at 67mins
- 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forNelsonat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ramsdale
- 10Smith Rowe
- 15Kiwior
- 17Cédric Soares
- 18Tomiyasu
- 20Jorginho
- 24Nelson
- 25Elneny
- 29Havertz
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Vicario
- 23Porro
- 17RomeroBooked at 75mins
- 37van de Ven
- 38UdogieBooked at 15mins
- 29SarrBooked at 45mins
- 8BissoumaBooked at 45mins
- 21Kulusevski
- 10MaddisonSubstituted forHøjbjergat 78'minutes
- 22JohnsonSubstituted forSolomonat 63'minutes
- 7Son Heung-minSubstituted forRicharlisonat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Skipp
- 5Højbjerg
- 9Richarlison
- 12Emerson Royal
- 15Dier
- 20Forster
- 27Solomon
- 33Davies
- 36Véliz
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 60,156
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home11
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away19
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2.
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Jorginho.
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Attempt blocked. Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dejan Kulusevski.
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Foul by Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Emile Smith Rowe replaces Bukayo Saka.
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Attempt saved. Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
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Attempt blocked. Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dejan Kulusevski.
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Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Dejan Kulusevski tries a through ball, but Richarlison is caught offside.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Destiny Udogie.
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Attempt blocked. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Reiss Nelson with a cross.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Guglielmo Vicario.
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Attempt saved. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Micky van de Ven.
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Foul by Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
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Attempt missed. Kai Havertz (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Micky van de Ven.
Comments
Join the conversation
Not seen this Tottenham for a few years.
Resilient. Venturing. Entertaining.
There were times we were actually on top. Very happy with that performance!
2 proper goals for Spurs v OG & dodgy pen.
COYS
Poor ref today I thought.