Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Derbies are one-off games often decided by small details.
In the Premier League, that so often means Premier League 2019 highlights galore and derby day drama.
When you throw into the mix a plethora of attacking talent and one team with defensive shortcomings, SBOBET fans were in for a potential treat.
So it proved. The Gunners’ defence lacked leadership and quality at Liverpool last weekend and, sure enough, they were vulnerable again.
Yet having been beaten by Palace in their last home London league derby, Arsenal were in no mood to lose two derbies on the bounce and fought back to claim a deserved point.
Spurs, who once more had to endure speculation which seemed very wide of the mark before kick-off — speculation which boss Mauricio Pochettino was quick to quash — may be disappointed not to have held on but can also be pleased with their afternoon’s work.
Highlights of the game
An intensity to Arsenal’s early play was matched by Spurs’ slickness on the counter-attack.
The importance of skipper Harry Kane, bidding for history, at both ends of the pitch was evident as he blocked an Ainsley Maitland-Niles effort destined for the goal.
It showed again moments later as Kane won a flick-on at the halfway line. Son Heung-Min slickly darted into the danger zone and slipped in Erik Lamela.
The Argentine’s shot, while parried by Bernd Leno, went straight into the path of the onrushing and untracked Christian Eriksen, who gleefully slipped the ball into an empty net.
It was his first-ever goal against Arsenal and sparked a spell of Spurs control as South Korean Son again dribbled at the Arsenal backline, cut inside and curled a shot which Leno palmed over.
It took the home side nearly 25 minutes to fashion a chance of note and they would’ve equalised with it but for Danny Rose’s intervention.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clipped a cross to the back post where new record signing Pepe’s header was goal-bound, but Rose made a vital block to deny him.
Back up the other end went Spurs and Kane may have doubled the lead. However, he needed an extra touch after a Son pass and Leno then clawed away an Eriksen free-kick.
Spurs were not to be denied a second, however.
Granit Xhaka dived in late to foul Son in the box and the conversion from Kane was as clinical as always.
It also took him level with Emmanuel Adebayor and Bobby Smith as the joint-highest scorer in north London derbies with 10 goals.
At this point, no-one could begrudge Spurs their advantage, but they needed to hang on until half-time as Arsenal pressed for a quick response.
That they couldn’t do so proved crucial.
Alexandre Lacazette’s free-kick was saved by Hugo Lloris, but the visitors were unable to clear. The ball came back to Lacazette, who took two fine touches and smashed the ball beyond his compatriot from close range.
In the second half, it was clear the next goal was crucial.
Lamela laid a ball off to Son, whose shot from the edge of the box deflected off Xhaka and was saved by the fingertips of Leno.
On the hour arrived another crucial moment as Kane played a one-two with Eriksen, who struck the post with a superb shot from an acute angle.
If that had gone in, it would likely have been game over.
Spurs’ misfortune was grasped by Arsenal just over 10 minutes later as Matteo Guendouzi lifted a ball over the Spurs defence. Aubameyang showed coolness and composure to dart between his markers and flick the ball into the bottom corner.
It brought back memories of last season’s corresponding fixture, memorable from a Gunners’ perspective.
The Emirates was rocking and Lloris had to push away a Xhaka drive. The hosts also had a goal, correctly, disallowed for offside.
But Spurs settled and continued to threaten themselves on the counter before referee Martin Atkinson called time on a pulsating encounter.
A point apiece, a fair result – for now, Arsenal and Spurs are both the pride of north London.
Key statistics
Spurs have dropped 42 points from winning positions in the Premier League against Arsenal, 11 more than any against any other side in the competition.
The 19 penalties scored in this fixture is the highest in Premier League history, one ahead of Everton against Newcastle United.
Eriksen’s goal was his 50th in the Premier League; he is the fifth Spurs player to reach that milestone for the club.
This was the 186th north London derby. Arsenal have won 77 times, Tottenham 58 with 51 draws.
Arsenal haven’t lost a north London derby in September since 1969, winning six and drawing five of 11 such meetings in all competitions.
Aubameyang has scored just four goals in 15 league games against sides from the established top six. In matches against other clubs, he has scored 31 times in 38 matches.
Tottenham have only won two of their 28 Premier League away matches versus Arsenal, in May 1993 and November 2010.
Arsenal have given away nine Premier League penalties since the start of last season – only Brighton (10) have conceded more.
Spurs have won only three of their last 13 matches in all competitions and seven of their last 22. They have taken just 16 points from their last 16 league games.
They are without an away win in the league for eight matches, their worst run since December 2011 to April 2012.
What’s next?
Arsenal travel to Watford when they return from the international break in a fortnight (September 15).
Meanwhile, Spurs host Crystal Palace a day earlier. Don’t forget to study our Premier League 2019 betting odds for those matches when they come out.
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