Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham: Son Heung-min earns point for Spurs in frenetic north London derby in Premier League

The first north London derby of the season finished level as Arsenal and Tottenham played out a frenetic 2-2 draw at the Emirates.

Arsenal took the lead when a Bukayo Saka shot was turned into his own goal by Cristian Romero. Gabriel Jesus missed a good chance to extend the lead, before superb work from James Maddison set up an equaliser for Son Heung-min just before half-time.

Saka restored Arsenal’s lead with a contentious penalty early in the second half, only for Spurs to equalise immediately as Maddison robbed Jorginho to set up Son once more. In injury time, Guglielmo Vicario did well to turn a low drive from Saka around the post, while substitute Richarlison went close to snatching all three points at the other end.

Both sides remain unbeaten in the 2023-24 Premier League season.

Given some of the characters that have passed through the Premier League managerial ranks, it’s perhaps not a huge surprise that we’re knocked sideways by such a frank, honest and sound human being like Ange Postecoglou.

Yet in the harsh, cynical world of top flight football, that would count for very little if it wasn’t backed up by results and performances. Postecoglou is delivering both and has transformed Spurs and their playing style in the space of a few months.

Today was a staging post, the first really big game of the new regime and a test of character when Spurs trailed twice. Previous iterations of Spurs have crumbled here in the face of adversity, but this team calmly fought their way back into the match twice with nicely worked goals and might well have won it. That assurance comes from confidence sent coursing through the club by a manager who is fearless, and is imbuing his players with the same addictive energy.

It was a coin toss between him and Maddison, but Saka takes it for edging a brilliant tussle with Destiny Udogie throughout, and his contribution to both goals. His shot caught Romero to give Arsenal the lead, and a cool as you like penalty early in the second half restored it. Everything positive Arsenal did came down his side.

Arsenal: Raya 6; White 7, Saliba 6, Gabriel 6, Zinchenko 6; Rice 6, Vieira 5, Odegaard 6; Saka 8, Jesus 7, Nketiah 7. Subs: Jorginho 5, Smith Rowe 6, Nelson 7, Havertz 5

Tottenham: Vicario 7; Porro 6, Romero 5, Van de Ven 6, Udogie 7; Bissouma 7, Sarr 6, Maddison 8; Kulusevski 7, Son 7, Johnson 6. Subs: Hojbjerg 6, Solomon 6, Richarlison 6

26’ GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham (Romero og): Arsenal lead! Odegaard works the ball to Saka on the right, forcing Udogie to back off. Saka cuts inside and curls one to the far post; Romero throws a leg at it, but can only divert the ball into the opposite corner, with Vicario helpless.

32’ ALMOST TWO! Spurs play it around their own box again. Maddison, presumably with no shout, is robbed on the edge by Jesus. It’s a free look at goal, but Jesus blazes his shot over! My oh my, what a let off for Maddison and Spurs there.

42’ GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham (Son): Spurs have been coming into it, and they’re level! Raya makes another good save from Johnson, before Maddison retrieves it on the left and ghosts by Saka. Maddison reaches the byline and cuts back to Son, who guides a low shot into the far corner.

50′ PENALTY TO ARSENAL! Arsenal win a corner. It flies through the front post area to White, who spins and shoots from four yards out. The ball hits the hand of Romero from close range, and Spurs clear. Arsenal are screaming for a penalty, and it’s being reviewed… It’s literally so close to Romero, how can he get out of the way – but was the shot going in? After a few minutes Rob Jones is invited to have a look and eventually… it’s given!

54’ GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham (Saka pen): Arsenal lead again, as Saka makes Vicario go hard to his right and lifts the shot down the middle. That’s so cool.

55’ GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham (Son): Well raise my rent, we’re level! Jorginho dallies on the ball in the middle of the Arsenal half, and is robbed by Maddiso. It’s two on one, and Maddison slides it to Son in the area who sidefoots it past Raya! My word!

90+2’ GOOD SAVE! From yet another Arsenal corner, the ball falls to Saka on the edge. He shoots low, through the legs of Sarr, and Vicario turns it behind.

90+10′ LATE CHANCE! Bissouma does brilliantly to win the ball and lead a spurs break. Kulusevski tees up Richarlison, whose shot deflects a yard wide of the post.

• In his last 11 games against Arsenal, Son has scored six goals, registered two assists and won three penalties.