TOTTENHAM battled back to secure a well deserved point at Arsenal in the North London derby.
Son Heung-min scored just 98 seconds after Bukayo Saka’s penalty to seal the 2-2 draw.
While the Gunners were hit with a back injury to Declan Rice in the second half.
- Result: Arsenal 2 Tottenham 2
- Arsenal team: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Vieira; Saka, Nketiah, Jesus
- Tottenham team: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Johnson, Son
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Follow our live blog below for all the latest from the Emirates…
Hot Spurs show fighting spirit
Tottenham fought back twice to earn a point at Emirates, a resilient characteristic that is becoming the norm under Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs have now earned eight points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, the second-most of any side afrer Liverpool (9).
The Londoners have come back from behind in their last three matches as well as on the opening weekend at Brentford.
- D2-2 v Brentford (from 2-1 down)
- W5-2 v Burnley (from 1-0 down)
- W2-1 v Sheff Utd (from 1-0 down)
- Drew 2-2 v Arsenal (from 1-0 and 2-1 down)
Arteta issues Rice update
Speaking to the press after this afternoon’s North London derby, Mikel Arteta has explained his reasoning for making a double change at half-time that saw Declan Rice and Fabio Vieira replaced by Jorginho and Kai Havertz.
[Declan] Rice was substituted due to a back injury, but [Fabio] Vieira was a tactical switch. We hope that Rice’s injury is not a long-term issue. It’s strange that a player like him has to come off so we’ll see.
Mikel Arteta
More Rom Com from Cristian
Undoubtedly a brilliant player for the most part, Cristian Romero remains prone to slapstick.
During the frenzy of the North London derby, the Argentine became the 11th player in Premier League history to score an own goal and give away a penalty in the same game.
Romero is the first Spurs player to hit those infamous heights, but can at least be grateful that he didn’t add a red card to the record, just his customary yellow.
James still Madd for it
With two assists in this North London derby, James Maddison leads the Premier League rankings with four for the season.
The playmaker has now been directly involved in 21 goals in his last 22 away games in the Premier League, returning 10 goals and 11 assists.
His six goal involvements on the road this season (two goals and four assists) is also the most of any player in the division.
Match stats from the Emirates
Arsenal and Tottenham both remain unbeaten at least six games into a top-flight campaign for only the second time in the Premier League era. The last time came in 2004-05.
Full time – Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
A pulsating contest comes to a close.
Arsenal twice had their noses in front in the North London derby, but Cristiano Romero’s own-goal and Bukayo Saka’s penalty were cancelled out by equalisers from Tottenham captain Son Heung-min; the second strike from the South Korean came just 98 seconds after the spotkick.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
90+10. As the clock strikes 100 minutes, Richarlison’s snapshot is deflected wide for a corner.
The Emirates holds its breath.
The set-piece is swung out from the right and met by the head of…
…Gabriel, who powers it to safety.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
90+8. Romero bodychecks Nketiah, and Arsenal have a late free-kick midway inside the Tottenham half.
They play it short because of course they do, and the momentum quickly evaporates.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham – Arsenal substitution
90+6. Emile Smith Rowe is going to get a run out, on for Bukayo Saka.
Can the young midfielder make a heroic contribution at the death?
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
90+4. Despite the game being deep into injury time, Alan Smith is using this time to bemoan Arsenal’s lack of a goalscorer.
That should tell you all you need to know about their attacking endeavours.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
90+2. Gabriel is denied a clear header from the corner by the presence of Udogie and Bissouma.
However, replays show that the ball brushed off the outstretched arm of the Italian defender.
There are no appeals from the Arsenal players, but Gary Neville is bemused: “For me, that’s more of a penalty than the Romero one.”
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
90+1. A Saka shot from outside the box whistles past Vicario’s right-hand post.
The goalkeeper, in fact, got a touch to the ball so it will be another corner to the Gunners.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
90. The board goes up and there will be TEN minutes of stoppage time to be played.
It’s news that brings roars from both sets of fans. Both still believe they can win this.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
89. Udogie pulls down Saka, landing on his opponent in the process.
Saka is moving gingerly as a result, and the Tottenham defender breathes a sigh of relief after remembering that he is already on a booking.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
87. It’s Arsenal finishing the stronger now, forcing a barrage of corners.
The latest from the left prompts Romero in to miscuing a header backwards, but the defender is helped out by a brilliant recovery by Bissouma.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
85. Saka curls it wickedly towards the near post from where it is flicked on and races across goal.
Begging to be converted at the far post, Nketiah doesn’t gamble on the ball dropping and misses out on an opportunity to make himself a hero.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
84. Reiss Nelson, on as a sub for Gabriel Jesus a few minutes ago, comes in from the left side and unleashes a rocket.
It loops up off a defender and goes behind for a corner.
Now the Arsenal fans are interested.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
82. Arsenal have just had two attempts on goal in this second half, the last of which was the penalty converted by Bukayo Saka in the 54th minute.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
80. Ten minutes to go!
One goal will win it now, surely.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham – Tottenham double substitution
78. It’s two changes for Spurs, and it’s the end of the road for their two main men.
Son Heung-min and James Maddison depart with Richarlison and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on in their place.
The captain’s armband is handed to Cristian Romero.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
76. Now it’s Arsenal’s turn to pour forward.
White busts a gut to overlap Saka on the right, but his energy is not matched by the delivery into a packed penalty area.
Instead, his cross is deflected casually into the arms of Vicario.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham – Romero yellow card
74. Who had 74 minutes in the when will Cristian Romero be booked bingo?
The defender is carded for grappling with Gabriel Jesus before the corner can even be taken. I suppose it is Argentina versus Brazil.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
73. Tottenham look the more assured side as the game enters its final stages.
Another crisp break from the visitors sees Kulusevski win a corner on the right.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
71. Remarkably, after receiving lengthy treatment, Maddison is going to play in.
Hopefully, the England star is fit to continue, and it’s not a similar situation to when Arsenal continued to play Jurrien Timber against Nottingham Forest when he had injured his ACL.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
69. This does not look good for James Maddison.
In his attempts to wrestle away from Jorginho, the midfielder jolts his knee and goes down in considerable pain.
Meanwhile, Spurs break away thanks to Maddison’s efforts, and almost grab the lead when Son steers into the side-netting.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
