Arsenal vs Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result and reaction from four-goal thriller
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham: Son equalised twice for Spurs as Ange Postecoglou’s side maintained their unbeaten Premier League start
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min’s brace earned his side a 2-2 draw at Arsenal in the Premier League as the visitors twice came from behind in an absorbing derby on Sunday.
Cristian Romero’s own goal after 26 minutes handed Arsenal the lead but Son equalised shortly before halftime as the visitors grew into the game.
Romero then conceded a penalty that was converted by Bukayo Saka in the 54th minute but Tottenham hit back almost immediately as Son punished a terrible mistake by Arsenal substitute Jorginho.
Both sides had chances to take maximum points with Son close to a hat-trick for Tottenham and Saka having a shot saved. Ten minutes of stoppage time could not separate the sides as the draw ensured both remain undefeated in the league this season with 14 points from six games.
Catch up with all the reaction after Arsenal and Tottenham shared the points in the north London derby
Ange Postecoglou has already transformed Tottenham with Arsenal comeback
All square at Arsenal, with one side much happier about it. Everyone else would at least have been greatly entertained by it.
This was yet another north London derby that swung back and forth in such absorbing fashion to add to its archive of classic games but, once it settled into a 2-2 draw, it was Tottenham celebrating more.
They have been given huge encouragement for the future, after displaying adventure and resilience in a match many might not have considered them quite ready for.
That is the effect of Ange Postecoglou, which was all the more impressive given how Arsenal had posed the most testing questions for the first half-hour. Mikel Arteta’s side, however, might again be feeling the effects of a title race with Manchester City.
Read Miguel Delaney’s full-time report from the Emirates Stadium below:
Ange Postecoglou has already transformed Tottenham with Arsenal comeback
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham: Spurs showed bravery and resilience to equalise twice and deny the Gunners in the derby
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
Arsenal and Tottenham remain unbeaten in the Premier League after playing out a breathless 2-2 draw in the Premier League, with Son Heung-min scoring twice to rescue a point for the visitors.
The Gunners were well on top in the opening stages and took a deserved lead when Bukayo Saka’s strike deflected in off Cristian Romero, but Ange Postecoglou’s side responded impressively at the Emirates.
Son equalised when he steered in James Maddison’s cut-back and although Saka restored Arsenal’s lead from the penalty spot when Romero was judged to have handled in the box, the Spurs forward hit back within two minutes when Jorginho was robbed.
Check out The Independent’s player ratings from today’s four-goal thriller:
Son Heung-min and James Maddison lead Tottenham response to claim Arsenal point
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham: The visitors hit back twice to claim a deserved point in a thrilling derby at the Emirates
Mikel Arteta provides Declan Rice injury update after ‘strange’ half-time change
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta revealed that Declan Rice was suffering from discomfort with his back prior to his substitution at half-time during the 2-2 draw with rivals Tottenham.
To compound Arsenal’s disappointing result, the home side also had to deal with an injury to record summer signing Rice, who made way at the break, with Arteta revealing the nature of the injury after the game.
Mikel Arteta provides Declan Rice injury update after ‘strange’ half-time change
The English midfielder was brought off at half-time in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with rivals Tottenham
More from Postecoglou
“The most pleasing thing for me is they’ve made a good environment every day and they want to follow what we’re providing them in information.
“When you get that belief was the playing group, you excel. But it’s a long way to go. The start is still the start for me. I’m happy the players want to be this kind of football team.
“We’re not going to dominate Arsenal for 90 minutes, no chance. We just kept playing, didn’t get flustered and lose belief. That’s a good sign as we’ve got challenges for sure. There are more obstacles we need to overcome to become the team we want to be.
“I don’t have a schedule, so I don’t worry about it. Wherever we are is a good place to go further. I’m not saying it’s going to take a while but the undeniable fact is we’re six games in. How many players in the past have started in a London derby? One or two probably. We’ve had an encouraging start.”
Ange Postecoglou now talking at his post-match press conference:
“Real pleased. They’re a top side, a tough place to come. Not much went our way today with an unlucky own goal and an unlucky penalty.
“The character, the belief the team showed, it’s the team we want to be. They kept persevering and persevering.
“There’s a will and desire to become the team we want to be which is making sure you’re disciplined and buying into the team values.
“It was Micky [van der Ven], Udogie, Porro, their first derby. Super proud of the experienced guys in there. Romero was outstanding, Bissouam brilliant all season and Sonny, his goals and work rate were phenomenal.”
Ange Postecoglou speaking to Sky Sports after the game
“Performance-wise We had to show everything we've got. They are a top team. We had to defend at times but we showed real courage and bravery to keep playing our football and press aggressively.
“We were a bit unfortunate with both of the goals but great character to come from behind twice at a difficult place.”
On his side’s response after conceding: “Brilliant. That's three away games at difficult venues that we've gone behind but a great response. They are a top team here at home and so far this side is growing - the football is still at the beginning - but so impressed with the character they are showing already as a group.”
Mikel Arteta speaking in his press conference
“We are disappointed not to get the three points that’s for sure. Especially when you go in front twice, especially the moments when we conceded and we could have scored 2-0 with Gabriel Jesus.
“The second goal affected the team emotionally and it became a transitional game, which is a risk if you play against them. Then we lacked the quality in the final third.
“The energy the boys put in, the attitude was phenomenal. But we lacked composure on the ball against a really good Spurs side.
“Credit to them, they have the quality and chances to do that. We have simple giveaways and we didn’t do enough in certain areas to spread out in certain areas.”
On Rice’s injury: “He had a back injury. We have to assess him. It’s strange for someone like him to come off.”
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
The Independent’s Miguel Delaney reporting that Declan Rice was experiencing some discomfort in his back before his half-time substitution:
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
A point each.
Maddison speaking to Sky Sports after the game
On his injury: “I just had a little moment where I tackled Jorginho where jolted my knee a little bit. You don’t want to play playing in a derby when you are not 100 per cent as it could cost the team so I had to come off for the last period.
On the performance: “I thought the lads were brilliant. We dug deep and showed quality. 2-2 may be a fair result in the end but we left everything out there and we can’t ask any more other than that.
“We responded brilliantly to going down. Heads can drop and momentum can shift when you concede a goal like that but we kept playing. Even in the early stages, we gave the ball away in some difficult areas but like we said bravery is to keep wanting the ball and playing our way even if mistakes happen and we did that for large parts and dominated the ball. All in all, a draw and we’ll walk away happy.”
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