In a highly anticipated North London derby, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal played out an exhilarating 2-2 draw, showcasing the best of Premier League football. The match marked the first-ever North London derby in which both teams entered the contest unbeaten in the league.
Arsenal opened the scoring through a Cristian Romero own goal and later added to their tally with a Bukayo Saka penalty. However, Tottenham’s Son Heung-min emerged as the hero, equalizing twice for his side. Son’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, making him the first Spurs player to score a brace at Arsenal in a Premier League match since May 1993.
This thrilling draw leaves Tottenham in fourth place, level on points with their local rivals, Arsenal, who sit just below them in the Premier League standings. Arsenal remains four points behind league leaders Manchester City, whom they are set to face in two weeks’ time.
The early stages of the match saw Tottenham’s goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, making crucial saves to keep his team in the game. He thwarted Gabriel Jesus and bailed out Destiny Udogie after a costly backpass allowed Eddie Nketiah a clear path to goal.
Despite Vicario’s heroics, Arsenal took the lead in the 26th minute when Saka unleashed a shot that was initially going wide but deflected off Romero’s leg into the net. This marked only the fourth time a Spurs player had scored an own goal in a Premier League North London derby.
Arsenal had the opportunity to extend their lead shortly after, but Gabriel Jesus fired his shot over the bar after dispossessing James Maddison in Tottenham’s box.
However, Tottenham finished the first half strongly, with Brennan Johnson having a promising chance on his full debut. His scuffed shot from Son’s pass was brilliantly saved by David Raya on the goalline.
The visitors found the equalizer soon after, as Maddison turned away from Saka and delivered a precise pass for Son. The South Korean forward timed his run perfectly, slotting the ball past Raya and celebrating in front of the Arsenal crowd.
The second half saw Arsenal respond with determination, with Mikel Arteta making tactical changes at halftime. Saka restored Arsenal’s lead with a confidently taken penalty after Romero handled Ben White’s close-range shot.
However, Son once again proved to be the thorn in Arsenal’s side. Maddison’s interception led to a perfectly executed finish by Son, marking his 150th goal for Spurs in all competitions.
Son had a chance to complete a hat-trick in the 69th minute, but his shot from a tight angle was deflected behind. This marked the last significant opportunity for Tottenham, who later substituted Son and Maddison, with the latter appearing to suffer a knee injury.
The match entered a thrilling climax, with Arsenal pushing forward relentlessly. Despite ten minutes of added time, the home side couldn’t create one final decisive chance, resulting in a pulsating North London derby ending in a 2-2 draw. The match featured 26 shots and seven yellow cards, delivering a spectacle of top-flight football.
