Maddison and Son Shine as Arsenal-Tottenham Duel Ends Level

Tottenham Hotspur staged two comebacks to secure an exhilarating 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the North London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal took an early lead courtesy of a Cristian Romero own goal, but Son Heung-min equalized for Spurs. Just minutes after Bukayo Saka’s penalty put the Gunners back in front, Son found the net again, ensuring both teams maintained their unbeaten starts to the season.

All Goals & Highlights: Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham

With Leandro Trossard sidelined due to injury, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus were in Arsenal’s attacking lineup, while Brennan Johnson made his full debut for Tottenham in a hostile environment.

Although Spurs had an early goal disallowed for offside, they stuck to their playing style, but Arsenal began to apply pressure. Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made two crucial saves in quick succession, denying Jesus and Nketiah.

Arsenal eventually broke through in the 26th minute when Saka cut inside and attempted a curling shot. Vicario appeared to have it covered, but Cristian Romero inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net.

The Gunners missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the 32nd minute when Jesus failed to convert from close range after dispossessing James Maddison.

Tottenham created a noteworthy chance in the 38th minute, with David Raya making an excellent save to deny Johnson’s shot. However, four minutes later, Maddison played a low ball to Son, who delicately side-footed it into the far corner, leveling the score.

Injuries to Declan Rice and Fabio Vieira disrupted Arsenal’s plans, prompting Mikel Arteta to bring on Kai Havertz and Jorginho for the second half. The hosts controversially regained the lead from a penalty awarded for a handball by Romero following an inswinging corner. Saka calmly converted the spot-kick.

Tottenham quickly responded as Maddison capitalized on a mistake by Jorginho, setting up Son for another goal.

The game saw injuries to Johnson and Maddison, but both teams pushed for a winner without success. Arsenal piled on the pressure in the final 10 minutes, with Vicario making a vital save to deny Saka.

Despite the late efforts, Arsenal remained fifth in the table with 14 points, while Tottenham dropped to fourth due to Liverpool’s win over West Ham United. Arsenal’s next focus is the EFL Cup third-round tie with Brentford on Wednesday, while Spurs face a daunting challenge at home against Liverpool in six days.