Son Heung-min scored twice as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur played out a frantic draw in the first north London derby of the season.
Arsenal were dominant for long periods of the first half and made their superiority count when Saka’s shot from just inside the area flew in via the outstretched leg of Cristian Romero, with the goal going down as an own goal.
But Tottenham rallied and James Maddison, who had found himself pushed deep for much of the half, popped up on the left wing, nipped past Saka and crossed for Son Heung-min to poke in.
Arsenal went ahead for a second time early in the second half when Romero again found himself at the centre of the action, blocking a close-range shot from Ben White with his hand. After a VAR review, Saka stepped up and scored from the penalty spot.
But the home side’s advantage lasted only a minute as a pulsating match swung once again. Jorginho, on at the break for the injured Declan Rice, dawdled in possession and was robbed by Maddison. The England attacker teed up Son to equalise for a second time.
Tim Spiers, Jordan Campbell and Michael Cox analyse a fascinating north London derby.
Tottenham pass Postecoglou’s biggest test yet
This was always going to be the sternest test of Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs in many different ways, but the Arsenal press was so effective it almost pushed them to breaking point in what was a fraught and distressing first 30 minutes.
It was no surprise to see the likes of Destiny Udogie (left isolated against Saka) and Pape Matar Sarr, still relative novices at this level, really struggle but when you’ve got Maddison almost conceding a goal with a horrible error, you could see how much Arsenal, with their immense pressure, had Spurs completely rattled. They just found it impossible to play through midfield.
But when Arsenal’s relentless pace eased Spurs got a foothold — and immediately, via the confidence and belief instilled in this group by Postecoglou — began asking questions of the Gunners. The front three were picked with quick transitions in mind and that’s how Spurs began to get joy, leading to a pick-pocketed equaliser just before the break.
In the second half there was another test of character via another Arsenal goal… and they immediately responded with another counter punch with a second clinical finish from captain Son.
WOW WOW WOW! This GAME!
Spurs are LEVEL again in NO time! 🤯⚡ pic.twitter.com/DKpUISIApR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 24, 2023
The Postecoglou revolution is only six Premier League games old, but look at what they can do already. What a job he’s doing.
Tim Spiers
White shows the value of the overlapping full-back
In the context of an era — and, in particular, a match — where full-backs spend most of their time drifting inside, it was notable that Arsenal’s opener came from a rare example of a full-back sprinting forward on the overlap.
ARSENAL TAKE THE LEAD IN THE NORTH LONDON DERBY 🔴
🎙️ “It’s been coming and it’s been coming down this side with Saka!” pic.twitter.com/HLOhJetcEA
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 24, 2023
White’s positioning beforehand had been steady and cautious, presumably to guard against Spurs’ counter attacks into that channel. But when Saka received the ball, dribbling up against the beleaguered Udogie, White’s sudden burst was crucial. Not only did it force Brennan Johnson to track back with him on the outside rather than get back into a position that might prevent Saka inside, it also briefly occupied Udogie. Saka needed no invitation to cut onto his favoured left foot.
The goal itself was slightly fortunate — Saka’s effort probably wasn’t going to curl inside the far post before Romero clumsily deflected it into his own net. But you sensed it was coming, on the basis of Saka’s opening to the game — and also because it was White’s sudden bursts on the overlap that decided this fixture last season.
Michael Cox
Raya is clearly Arsenal No 1 – but for him this was a game of two big moments
The conversation around the goalkeeper position was always going to dominate until Mikel Arteta picked one consistently. With Raya chosen for the third game on the bounce it was a telling sign.
Raya did not have many saves to make in the games against Everton and PSV but a five-minute spell before half-time showed why the spotlight is so brightly on both keepers.
After a cutback from Son set up Johnson to finish from around the penalty spot it looked an inevitable goal. But Raya somehow moved his feet quickly enough to make it back across goal and claw out from behind him — David Seaman vs Sheffield United style. Ramsdale held his fist high in the air and turned to his fellow subs to show his appreciation for the stop.
Ramsdale 👏 Raya pic.twitter.com/Ct8AmieHMG
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 24, 2023
Minutes later though Raya’s part in Spurs’ equaliser was under scrutiny. He is aggressive with his positioning from crosses, which allowed him to claim one very well a minute earlier, but Pedro Porro’s looping cross to the back post caught him a couple of yards high. He had to frantically backtrack and scoop the ball from the air, but he put it back into the danger area rather than over the bar. He saved the rebound but from the same attack Spurs scored.
Overall he had another solid game but this was a period that highlighted how Arsenal keepers will be judged on the few big actions they are invovled in every game.
Jordan Campbell
Rice injury proves costly for Arsenal
The sight of Rice starting the second half on the bench with an ice pack around his calf was a sorry one for Arsenal.
He has quickly become a dominating force in midfield since joining this summer and his presence was missed after the break.
There were numerous examples of him breaking up counter attacks in the first half, filling in for his full-backs by eating up the ground and forcing the ball out. He also kept a close eye on Maddison, which saw the Spurs playmaker drop further and further back to find room.
His replacement Jorginho is renowned for his ability to keep possession and control moves. Manager Mikel Arteta would have hoped those qualities would bring more calm to a frantic game but it didn’t.
Kai Havertz came on for Fabio Vieira and in midfield Spurs started to have a lot of joy, cutting through the middle of the pitch far too easily. The spaces in the wide positions were far too great and Jorginho’s immobility was shown up compared to Rice.
But it was surprisingly his decision making on the ball which proved most costly.
His ponderous error for Spurs’ second was really irresponsible play from an experienced midfielder but Spurs took advantage of the mistake so much more clamly than Gabriel Jesus did when he stole the ball from Maddison in the first half.
To only hold the lead for 98 seconds will be a moment they rue for a while.
Jordan Campbell
A game to show the north London chasm is closing
Arsenal and Spurs going into an early-season north London derby with both teams near the top of the table isn’t unusual. Heck, it happened just 12 months ago in this fixture with Spurs in third, one point behind the early leaders Arsenal.
But my goodness, that game was so different to this one, particularly in Spurs’ approach.
Under Antonio Conte they tried to defend and counter their way to a result and, when 3-1 down with 15 minutes left, Conte made five substitutions as he rested his best players and waved the white flag.
Here, Spurs had more possession (53 per cent) and weathered another early Emirates storm in a very different way… by going on the attack as soon as they could.
It made for a breathtaking encounter between two youthful, confident, attack-minded but also flawed sides, played at a terrific pace, with drama and the odd dollop of controversy.
A captivating game ebbed and flowed and the only downside was it had to end, as the cheers for 10 minutes of stoppage time from both sets of fans reflected.
These two great rivals finished 24 points apart last season and were a world away in terms of positivity, hope and expectations. On this day at least, two goals apiece and 13 shots apiece, you couldn’t separate them.
Tim Spiers
(Top photos: Getty Images)
