Derby draw another demonstration of Spurs' new-found steel

It is a measure of Tottenham's improvement under Ange Postcoglou that he and his players were not happy with a draw at the Emirates Stadium, where they have only won once in the league.

Even ten minutes of stoppage time was not enough to separate these bitter rivals, who both lost ground in the fledgling Premier League race, and the final whistle was greeted with a swift deflation of the febrile atmosphere that had fuelled the adrenaline rush of an entertaining north London derby.

Mikel Arteta's disappointment was down to a rare failure to secure the bragging rights from this home fixture, the one their supporters still want to win most.

For Tottenham, there was regret they did not leave with all three points after dominating in terms of possession, shots on goal and shots on target, having played some enterprising football and showing great character to come from behind for the second week running.

As James Maddison said in his post-match interview, this team are no longer a soft touch. “When neutrals talk about Tottenham, they often say; soft, weak, bottle it, 'Spursy', all that rubbish. I think the last couple of weeks shows we might be going in a slightly different direction.” 

Bukayo Saka twice put Arsenal ahead, once with the aid of a huge deflection off Cristian Romero, but Heung Min Son equalised quickly on both occasions, and a draw suggested just desserts for two sides hoping to challenge for the title this season.

“We are very disappointed not to win the three points, especially when you go twice in front,” said Arteta. “We lacked some composure on the ball in the final third.” 

Postecoglou echoed his opposite number's thoughts. 

“We're disappointed. It's not about being happy with the result. You can get a draw and think you've escaped but I didn't think that today. We would rather have won, but it's a learning process for a very young side,” he added.

“This is a tough place to come. We were unlucky to concede an own goal and a penalty, but we went toe to toe with a top side, showed great belief and kept persevering.” 

Indeed this was the biggest test Postecoglou's possession-based style has faced so far this season.

Arsenal beat Tottenham at home and away on their way to runners-up spot last season, but Spurs are a vastly-improved side since the Australian took over from Antonio Conte. They are bolder, braver, and more attack-minded, and it took some superb last-ditch defending from William Saliba to deny them more goals.

Arsenal could also have scored more but for the reflexes of Guglielmo Vicario, who had little chance with both goals and made excellent saves from Saka and Gabriel Jesus in particular. Jesus had the best of the early chances, meeting Saka's cross with a goalbound half-volley that the Italian keeper did well to tip away.

Son got the ball in the Arsenal net early on, but was offside when he diverted Brennan Johnson's low shot.

Arsenal finally made the breakthrough in the 26th minute. Dejan Kulusevski lost possession on Tottenham's right and Arsenal broke quickly. When Saka receives the ball wide on the right, it is no secret that he will look to cut inside, but Spurs did not respond quickly enough and gave him the time and space to curl in a cross-shot with his left boot. Vicario looked to have the flight of the ball covered until Romero stepped across and deflected it past him with his knee.

Arsenal's fans erupted and their players were momentarily lifted, while Tottenham's looked nervous and started to make basic errors. Maddison lost possession on the edge of the penalty area to Jesus, but the Brazilian blasted his shot high over the bar. It proved to be a costly miss, as five minutes later Tottenham were level.

Johnson had been denied by a sliding tackle from Saliba and then a superb one-handed save by David Raya, but the new goalkeeper was at fault when he flapped at a deep cross from the right. He blocked Johnson's subsequent shot, but the ball fell for Maddison, who left Saka for dead on the left and cut a low cross back for Son to guide it into the goal off the inside of the far post.

Mikel Arteta made two changes at half-time, sending on Kai Havertz for Fabio Vieira and replacing the injured Declan Rice with Jorginho. Worryingly Arteta said the club's record signing has a back problem that forced him off. 

“He told us at half-time he was uncomfortable and he could not continue,” said Arteta, who does not know how long his star midfielder might be missing. Jorginho proved to be an inadequate replacement with a costly error soon after Saka had restored Arsenal's lead early in the second half from the penalty spot, after Romero blocked Ben White's close-range shot with his arm, as Son hit back within a minute to equalise again.

Jorginho lost the ball to Maddison in the centre circle, who ran on to supply the pass from which Son struck his fifth goal of the season with a first-time shot inside the far post.

Now it was the turn of Tottenham's noisy band of travelling fans to celebrate. Son could have had a hat-trick but for a brilliant intervention from Saliba, who then cut out a dangerous cross from Pedro Porro.

“Sonny was on another level today, not just with his goals but his leadership and work ethic. His first thought is 'what is best for the team'. He was outstanding.” 

There were still chances at each end going into ten minutes of stoppage time. Vicario got down well to save a low shot from Saka in stoppage time, and Raya had to leap high to hold a looping shot from Tottenham substitute Richarlison.

The final whistle brought little celebration from either side, both of whom are still unbeaten but are now slipping behind City, Liverpool and even Brighton.

But as Maddison said, Tottenham are no longer Spursy.

Arsenal: Raya 6, White 5, Saliba 8, Gabriel 5, Zinchenko 6, Rice 5 (Jorginho 46), Vieira 4 (Havertz, 46), Odegaard 7, Saka 7 (Smith Rowe 90+7), Nketiah 5, Jesus 5 (Nelson 77). 

Spurs: Vicario 6, Udogie 7, van de Ven 7, Romero 7, Porro 5, Sarr 7, Bissouma 8, Maddison 7 (Hojbjerg 78), Kulusevski 7, Son 8 (Richarlison 78) Johnson 5 (Solomon 63).

Referee: Robert Jones 8.