Arsenal and Tottenham Share Points in Thrilling North London Derby
The North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham delivered a breathtaking spectacle that ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his mixed emotions after the match, feeling like his team had lost two points.*
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shared his post-match thoughts with Sky Sports, lamenting the rollercoaster of emotions his team experienced during the derby clash. “We feel like we lost two points. It’s true there was a lot of change in the dominance of the game, but especially when we had more control and more dominance in the game, and we score the goal, they score straight away.”
The match got off to an electrifying start as Arsenal took an early lead, only for Tottenham to respond with a quick equaliser, leaving both teams emotionally charged. Arteta acknowledged the difficulties his team faced during certain periods of the game, saying, “We started quite good, we scored the goal, but straight away we concede. So, emotionally, that was a difficult one to take.”
Arteta also highlighted moments of frustration in his team’s performance, stating, “I thought we struggled for a period of 10 or 15 minutes later, we lacked a lot of composure with the ball and we made it a basketball game. But I think in the end we pushed, pushed and pushed, but couldn’t get the win.”
When discussing the match’s outcome, Arteta emphasised the challenge of converting chances at the highest level of football, saying, “The hardest thing to do is put the ball in the net. We’ve done it twice but I think we conceded two really poor goals. At this level, they’re going to punish you because they’ve got top players.”
Despite the frustration, Arteta acknowledged the unpredictable nature of football, stating, “Obviously, we are disappointed with the way we conceded the goals, but of course, this is football, and you have to live with that.”
The match also saw an unfortunate injury to Arsenal’s Declan Rice, who had to be substituted due to a back issue. Arteta provided an update on Rice’s condition, saying, “He looked really uncomfortable with a back issue, and we had to take him off.”
On the other side of the North London divide, Tottenham’s positive start to the season under new manager Postecoglou continued. The team’s entertaining approach and resilience in the face of adversity were evident as they twice came from behind to secure a valuable point.
With Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich, Tottenham sought to find new sources of creativity and goals. They seem to have found a promising partnership in James Maddison and Son Heung-min, who played pivotal roles in both of Tottenham’s goals. The duo’s chemistry was on full display as they combined effectively throughout the match.
Tottenham’s defensive resilience was equally impressive, with the team standing firm in the face of Arsenal’s late onslaught. The match’s intensity was reflected in the passionate celebrations of the Spurs fans and manager Postecoglou after the final whistle.
In another Premier League fixture, Newcastle United achieved a historic victory, recording their largest-ever away win in the league with an 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United. The match saw eight different Newcastle players finding the back of the net, marking a Premier League record. For Sheffield United, it was a bitter defeat, their largest-ever in league history, and the first time they conceded eight goals in a league match since 1933.
The match also saw Kieran Trippier achieve a rare feat, becoming only the second player in Premier League history to assist three headed goals in a single game. The high-scoring encounter broke records, including the quickest that Sheffield United had ever conceded three goals from the start of a Premier League match.