LONDON: Tottenham, unrecognisable from the muddled team of Harry Kane’s final years in north London, hit back twice to earn a deserved 2-2 draw in an exciting north London derby at Arsenal.

Last season Kane’s Spurs were beaten both home and away by the Gunners but that was another Tottenham compared with the positive, confident team recast by new manager Ange Postecoglou. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal could point the handicap of a back injury to England midfielder Declan Rice which forced a second-half reorganisation.

Arteta said: “We started the game really well. We scored one and had the chances to score a second then we conceded and we suffered before halftime. We had to adjust midfield when Declan went out and then it was like basketball. We need to show much more composure. We can’t ever be satisfied with 2:2 at home.”

This was the first north London in many years which carried all the aura of a serious event. Arsenal took the lead after 26 minutes when Bukayo Saka’s shot was deflected into his own goal by Tottenham defender Cristian Romero. David Raya, preferred again in goal ahead of Aaron Ramsdale, made two fine saves from Brennan Johson before Son Heung-min equalised before the interval.

Arsenal regained the lead with a Saka penalty after 54 minutes when the luckless Romero was penalised for handball. But almost immediately Jorginho, the substitute for Rice, lost possession to playmaker Maddison and Son claimed his and Spurs’ second goal.

This was a 150th Tottenham goal for the South Korean, who took over the captain’s armband after Kane’s departure for FC Bayern.

Postecoglou said: “I thought we were unfortunate with both of the goals, an own goal and a penalty, but we showed real courage and bravery to keep playing our football and come back for a point both times. That’s four away games we’ve got a result in difficult venues. We’ve gone behind at three of them and showed a brilliant response each time.

“We’re still only six games into building our side here. This match was about playing our football in a top venue against a difficult side and I thought we did that really well.”

Liverpool win again

Unbeaten Liverpool maintained their status as main challengers to champions Manchester City by extending their unbeaten run to 18 games in all competitions after a 2-1 win over West Ham at Anfield.

Both teams made nine changes from their Conference League duties on Thursday and were all-square at halftime. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring from the penalty spot after being brought down by Nayef Aguerd with Jarrod Bowen heading an equaliser. Bowen is the first player to score in West Ham’s opening four away games in a top-flight campaign since Vic Watson in 1929-30.

Salah is the fifth player to either score or assist a goal in each of his team’s first six games of a Premier League season, after David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland.

Liverpool raised the pace after halftime and Alexis Mac Allister provided the assist when Darwin Nunez restored the lead . Diogo Jota secured a third goal five minutes from fulltime, converting a header from Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool’s captain was back on duty after a two-game suspension.

Ollie Watson showed Chelsea what they are missing when his first goal of the season brought Aston Villa a 1:0 win at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea went without a goal for the third successive league match.

Problems are piling up for manager Mauricio Pochettino who already had five senior players injured. French rightback Malo Gusto faces a three-match ban after a red card for a bad tackle on Lucas Digne. Also, striker Nicolas Jackson will be suspended for one match after being booked for the fifth time in only his sixth league match. Three of Jackson’s yellow cards, to Pochettino’s annoyance, have been for dissent.

Sheffield United crashed down to the foot of the table, below Luton and Burnley on goal difference, after collapsing 8-0 at home to Newcastle. England fullback Kieran Trippier contributed three assists.

Blades’ fans began streaming out of Bramall Lane at halftime. Manager Paul Heckinbotham is favourite to become the first Premier League sacking, only four months after celebrating promotion.

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