Premier League 2023-24: Son’s double earns Tottenham 2-2 draw at Arsenal

Ten minutes of stoppage time could not separate the sides as the draw ensured both remain undefeated in the league this season with 14 points from six games.

Heung-Min Son hands the captain’s armband to Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2023 in London, England. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min’s brace earned his side a 2-2 draw at Arsenal in the Premier League as the visitors twice came from behind in an absorbing derby on Sunday.

Cristian Romero’s own goal after 26 minutes handed Arsenal the lead, but Son equalised shortly before halftime as the visitors grew into the game.

Romero then conceded a penalty that was converted by Bukayo Saka in the 54th minute but Tottenham hit back almost immediately as Son punished a terrible mistake by Arsenal substitute Jorginho.

Both sides had chances to take maximum points, with Son close to a hat-trick for Tottenham and Saka having a shot saved.

Ten minutes of stoppage time could not separate the sides.

A draw was just about the fair result as both sides remained undefeated in the league this season with 14 points from six games, although both dropped down in the table.

Tottenham is fourth, ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal on goal difference. Leader Manchester City has 18 points, with Liverpool on 16 and Brighton and Hove Albion on 15.

Tottenham’s new manager Ange Postecoglou has transformed the mood at the club after their eighth-placed finish last season left it below Arsenal for the first time since 2016.

But Sunday at its bitter rival was always going to be the ultimate test for a new-look Tottenham which, for the first time since 2014, was unable to call upon Harry Kane for a north London league derby.

Kane, who joined Bayern Munich, on the eve of the season is the all-time top scorer in the derby with 14 goals.

But in Son, Tottenham possess another lethal striker, and his two silky finishes ensured that the 194th edition of the London rivalry ended with honours even.

Arsenal, buoyed by its 4-0 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven on its Champions League return, dominated early on with Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario twice forced into sharp saves, one to deny Gabriel Jesus and the other to keep out Eddie Nketiah after a mistake by Destiny Udogie.

He was powerless in the 26th minute though, when Saka cut in and struck a shot that took a deflection off Romero and flew into the net.

Tottenham was lucky not to go further behind when James Maddison lost the ball in a dangerous area, but Jesus blasted his shot over the crossbar.

Arsenal keeper David Raya, again preferred to Aaron Ramsdale, did well to keep out a Brennan Johnson attempt from Son’s cut-back as Tottenham threatened down the right.

The visitors went in level at the break when Maddison wriggled to the byline and clipped the ball back for Son to glance a shot past Raya.

Argentina defender Romero’s misfortune continued when a Ben White shot struck his outstretched arm, and referee Robert Jones awarded a penalty after a VAR check.

Saka converted, but Arsenal’s lead lasted barely a minute as Jorginho, who replaced Declan Rice at the break, stumbled in possession and was duly punished as Maddison played in Son to calmly place his shot into the corner of the net.

With its tail up Tottenham came close to going ahead when Dejan Kulusevski’s pass found Son running in behind Arsenal’s defence, but the Spurs captain fired into the side netting.

Saka had a shot saved by Vicario, and Arsenal’s hearts were in their mouths with the clock showing 100 minutes as Richarlison’s effort flew wide.