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 north London derby on Sunday.
Cristian Romero’s own goal after 26 minutes handed Arsenal the lead, but Son equalized with a deft finish shortly before halftime as the visitors grew into the game.
The unfortunate 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 mistake by Arsenal substitute Jorginho.
Both sides had opportunities 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, although Tottenham substitute Richarlison almost nicked it at the death when his shot was deflected wide.
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 are fourth, ahead of fifth-place Arsenal on goal difference. Leaders Manchester City have 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 them below Arsenal for the first time since 2016.
But Sunday’s match at their bitter rivals was viewed the ultimate test for a new-look Tottenham who, for the first time since 2014, were 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 (14 goals).
But in Son, Tottenham possess another lethal striker, and his two silky finishes ensured that the 194th edition of London rivalry ended with honors even.
Arsenal, buoyed by their 4-0 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven on their 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 were 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.
And 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 their tails up, Tottenham came close to going ahead when Dejan Kulusevski’s pass found Son running in behind Arsenal’s defense, 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.
