Today's Edition
London (Agencies)
Tottenham came from behind twice to rescue a pulsating 2-2 draw against Arsenal thanks to Son Heung-min’s double in their north London derby yesterday.
Ange Postecoglou’s side trailed to Cristian Romero’s first half own goal before South Korea forward Son hauled them level at the Emirates Stadium.
Bukayo Saka restored Arsenal’s lead with a second-half penalty, but Son had the last word with his second goal as these bitter rivals both extended their unbeaten starts to the Premier League season.
Tottenham sit in fourth place, above fifth placed Arsenal on goal difference, after the hard-fought clash. To make matters difficult for both teams, Brighton and Hove Albion rallied to beat Bournemouth and take the third spot.
Although Tottenham have now won just one of their last 31 league trips to Arsenal and remain without a victory on enemy territory since 2010, there was much to admire from Postecoglou’s team.
Not only did they show impressive character to twice hit back from Arsenal’s goals, but they did it with the kind of eye-catching play that was so rarely seen during Antonio Conte’s reign.
Tottenham have scored at least twice in all six league games under Postecoglou despite the close-season departure of the club’s record goalscorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.
For Arsenal, it was a frustrating afternoon as they lost ground on leaders Manchester City, who stand four points above them in the title race.
Arsenal tested Tottenham’s mettle in a blistering start and their pressure kept mounting. They took the lead in the 26th minute, with a bit of fortune.
As Tottenham’s defenders backed off too far, Saka advanced into the area and curled in a shot that took a huge deflection off Romero’s out-stretched leg as it flashed past the wrong-footed Vicario.
Arsenal keeper David Raya, starting his third successive match instead of Aaron Ramsdale, made an outstanding save to keep out Brennan Johnson’s strike late in the first half.
But, with Tottenham gradually turning the tide, Raya was guilty of misjudging a cross in the attack that led to the visitors’ 42nd-minute equaliser.
After Raya weakly palmed the ball away rather than catching it, he managed to save Johnson’s effort, but Tottenham still recycled possession to James Maddison. The latter adroitly evaded Saka and cut a low cross towards Son, who deftly flicked his shot past Raya from six yards.
Arsenal quickly regained the lead in the 54th minute, when Romero blocked Ben White’s close-range shot with his hand. Referee Robert Jones awarded the penalty after checking the pitchside monitor, which Saka converted.
Tottenham’s equaliser came in the next minute itself. Maddison was the instigator again, dispossessing the careless Jorginho in midfield before teeing up Son for a clinical finish into the far corner.
Super Sub for Brighton
Substitute Kaoru Mitoma made an instant impact off the bench as Brighton came from behind to beat Bournemouth 3-1. Brighton have 15 points from six games, one point more than Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, while Bournemouth, without a win, are in 17th.
Bournemouth struck when Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, several metres out of the goal, under-hit a pass which was intercepted by Ryan Christie and Dominic Solanke lobbed the ball into an empty net.
Brighton had a slice of luck, when Billy Gilmour’s cross bounced off defender Milos Kerkez’s head and looped past goalkeeper Neto for an own goal.
De Zerbi made a double change at the break with Mitoma and Ansu Fati introduced. Both were involved in a sweeping team move which the Japanese winger finished off 17 seconds after the restart.
Mitoma added the third when he found space in between the Bournemouth defence to nod home a Pervis Estupinan cross.
