If Ange Postecoglou’s revolution goes the distance then a Gabriel Jesus miss might acquire folkloric status on one side of this London divide.
Not only were Tottenham trailing at the time, with a little more than half an hour on the clock, they were being dominated. Arsenal looked every inch the classier act. Cohesive, quick, aggressive and incisive as they were when Jesus took the ball from James Maddison inside the Spurs penalty area.
Fifteen yards out, in the centre of the goal he missed the target. Blazed it over and Spurs came to their senses, found a better tempo and, without abandoning their principles entirely, figured out it was time to stop dithering on the ball at the back.
The game was a different sort of contest from this point on. Postecoglou’s team got onto the front foot, higher up the pitch and their full backs no longer appeared panic stricken by the prospect of keeping Bukayo Saka and Jesus under control.
Instead, their attacking players began to force Arsenal into errors, including one by Jorginho, which led to the fourth goal of the game. Heung-min Son equalised twice, two beautifully clinical finishes, first to cancel out an own goal by Cristian Romero and then a penalty conceded by the same player and converted by Saka.
Son Heung-min scored a brace on Sudnay as Tottenham drew 2-2 at Arsenal in a thrilling North London derby
He opened the scoring just before the break with a composed finish past Gunners keeper David Raya
It came after Arsenal opened the scoring when Bukayo Saka’s cross was deflected in by Cristian Romero
Saka put Arsenal in front just after half time after a controversially awarded penalty but the lead was short lived
Tottenham were never ahead and their record at Arsenal in the Premier League remains dreadful. In the Premier League, they have won only once here in 30 years, yet they left the Emirates Stadium in buoyant mood, encouraged by the direction of travel.
Once he had finished pumping his fist at the away end, Postecoglou shrugged that he didn’t care about the result but he will know this fightback will be a catalyst for his project if it emboldens belief that his adventurous style of football can take points against elite teams in hostile environments.
Albeit at the end of a week when Mikel Arteta’s team had to contend with the Champions League and a growing cluster of injuries. Declan Rice is the latest, having been forced off at half time with a back problem.
Tottenham had the week to plan and prepare for their first derby of the post Harry Kane era, but they started as if stunned by Arsenal’s desire and mobility as they squeezed forward, forcing passes astray. Son had the ball in the net in the opening minutes but was well offside and activity was largely focused at the other end.
Guglielmo Vicario made early saves. First from Jesus, picked out by Saka at the back post. Destiny Udogie was suffering against Saka with little protection or assistance from winger Brennan Johnson on his first Spurs start.
Udogie picked up a yellow card for a late tackle and seemed rattled seconds later when a careless pass intended for Micky van de Ven played Eddie Nketiah through on goal.
Again, Vicario made the save and it was no surprise when the opening goal came from that side of the pitch. Martin Odegaard swept a pass out to Saka, who checked inside onto his left foot. Both Udogie and Johnson were goal side but neither applied any pressure.
Saka whipped a dangerous cross into the goalmouth and Romero diverted it clumsily into his own net via his left knee.
Spurs looked certain to score as Brennan Johnson’s shot ended a silky move but Raya got across his goal in spectacular fashion to save the effort
Cristian Romero had an afternoon to forget as he scored an own goal and gave away the penalty that Saka converted
Arsenal deserved their lead and then came the Jesus chance, missed. Then Tottenham stirred and forced David Raya, a goalkeeper they tried to sign before he joined Arsenal from Brentford, into an incredible save.
Johnson surely thought anything on target was in as he swept a low cross by Son towards goal with Raya stranded beyond his near post but the Spanish goalkeeper flung himself across the goal line and clawed the ball away.
MATCH FACTS
Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, White, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Vieira (Havertz, 45), Rice (Jorginho, 45), Saka (Smith Rowe, 90+6), Jesus (Nelson, 77) Nketiah
Unused subs: Elneny, Ramsdale, Kwior, Cedric, Tomiyasu
Goals: Romero (o.g, 26) Saka (54)
Booked: Odegaard, Nkeitah
Tottenham: Vicario, Romero, Porro, van de Ven, Udogie, Bissouma, Maddison (Hojberg, 78), Kulusevski, Johnson (Solomon, 63), Sarr, Son (Richarlison, 79)
Unused subs: Skipp, Forster, Veliz, Royal, Dier, Davies
Goals: Son (42, 55)
Bookings: Udogie, Bissouma, Sarr
Raya, starting his third game in a row, was less impressive when Tottenham levelled, flapping at a high floaty cross by Pape Matar Sarr. Udogie maintained the pressure on by heading the loose ball to Maddison, who shrugged off Saka far too easily and found Son, who finished first time, in off the far post while surrounded by red shirts.
Arsenal struck first in an even second half. Ben White’s shot on the turn struck Romero on his left hand, outstretched as he lunged forward in an attempt to make a block and the handball rule came under scrutiny once again as VAR Paul Tierney told referee Robert Jones to check out the replays on the monitor.
Romero had not handled deliberately and White was so close to him that there had been no chance to adjust and withdraw his arm. Yet the arm was up and the proximity to the goal counted against him. It was goal bound and would probably have gone in had it not struck his hand.
Jones pointed to the spot and Saka scored, clipping his shot down the centre as Vicario dived right.
This time, Spurs responded within a minute. Maddison took the ball from Jorginho deep in Arsenal’s half and released Son, speeding away into the inside right channel from where the Korean produced another unerring finish. More balm to soothe the pain of Kane’s exit.
There were scares at both ends in a breathless ending. Son lashed another shot into the side-netting. Gabriel cut out a Pedro Porro cross with Son waiting to pounce and Postecoglou threw his hands to his head.
Flurries of pressure and opportunities, too, for the home side. Kai Havertz blazed over and Vicario saved from Saka.
But the honours shared in North London. Both teams remain unbeaten, six games into the season but this felt like a better day for Spurs in their eternal struggle to escape Arsenal’s shadow. One they might even look back on fondly.
Declan Rice was forced off with a a calf injury at half time in what could prove to be a big blow for the Gunners
James Maddison also went down and looked to be in some discomfort, although he was able to play a further 10 minutes before coming off
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12555025/Arsenal-2-2-Tottenham-Son-Heung-min-North-London-derby-Cristian-Romero.html
