EPL: Spurs stay unbeaten after 2-2 draw at Arsenal

LONDON (AP):

Mauricio Pochettino listened to the boos ring out at Stamford Bridge after his Chelsea side slumped to another disappointing loss in the English Premier League (EPL).

Across London, Ange Postecoglou was greeted by a standing ovation from his Tottenham supporters after another impressive performance by Spurs against archrivals Arsenal.

The two managers’ contrasting starts to the season were underlined yesterday by Chelsea’s 1-0 home loss to Aston Villa while Tottenham drew 2-2 at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

That was followed by Newcastle equalling their biggest Premier League win with an 8-0 rout of Sheffield United in the late game.

Pochettino, the former Tottenham manager who took over Chelsea in the offseason following a chaotic season that saw the Blues go through three coaches, now has just one win and three losses to show for his first six games in charge. The latest defeat came after Chelsea’s Malo Gusto was sent off in the 58th minute and Villa forward Ollie Watkins scored the winner in the 73rd.

Postecoglou, meanwhile, is still unbeaten in the league after passing his biggest test yet in his first north London derby. It was Tottenham’s first point at Arsenal since 2019.

Son Heung-min scored both goals for Tottenham, who came from behind twice after an own-goal by Cristian Romero and a penalty by Bukayo Saka. The second equaliser came just 23 seconds after Arsenal had regained the lead, following a huge mistake by Jorginho, who dawdled on the ball in midfield and gave the ball away.

On a busy Sunday schedule featuring five Premier League games, Liverpool climbed into second place with a 3-1 win over West Ham at Anfield, while Brighton beat Bournemouth 3-1 behind two goals from substitute Kaoru Mitoma.

SON RESCUES SPURS

Coming to the hostile environment of the Emirates Stadium promised to be a good indicator of whether Postecoglou’s attack-minded “Angeball” style of play can work even in big away games.

Son and James Maddison made sure it worked just fine.

Maddison set up Son for both goals, first breaking in from the left and squaring the ball for a first-time finish to level the score at 1-1 shortly before the halftime break. After Saka restored Arsenal’s lead from the spot in the 54th, Maddison responded immediately by robbing Jorginho of the ball and sending Son clear through on goal to beat goalkeeper David Raya with a low finish.

“It’s a derby, it’s always a tough game. But the performance was fantastic from the lads until the last whistle,” Son said. “I think we gave everything so I think the fans can be proud of the game. Obviously we wanted to win, but I think the performance was perfect.”