Tottenham and Arsenal shared the points this afternoon in North London, with the Lilywhites coming from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw away to their bitter rivals.
Let’s take a look at how the individual players got on:
Tottenham Player Ratings vs Arsenal
Guglielmo Vicario – 8 – Had no chance with the Arsenal opener as it deflected into the opposite corner. Made a fair few really crucial saves, the best one being a tip around the post from a Gabriel Jesus shot in the first half. Such a steady pair of hands… and feet, for that matter.
Pedro Porro – 7 – Struggled to turn defence into attack at times down that narrow right channel when Arsenal pressed high in the first half. He grew into the game though and the few times he did get into the final third, he looked really dangerous. Needs to keep an eye over his shoulder when defending to stop that back post cross threat.
Cristian Romero – 7 – A little unlucky with the deflection? Or was it a daft one to throw a leg at? It’s hard to criticise such a split-second decision. Same thing with the penalty really. Beyond those moments, Romero actually looked very controlled and protected the Spurs box impressively.
Micky Van de Ven – 9 – The best defender on show by a mile for Tottenham. Van de Ven was mopping up threats all over the pitch. Anything in the air, he gobbled up. Anything on the ground, his pace and timing of the tackle was near-perfect.
Destiny Udogie – 7 – Really struggled in the first 45 up against Saka today. A young full-back who has never played in the NLD before going up against one of the best wingers in the league, he was always going to have a tough time. I was impressed by how he stuck to his task after some nervy moments though and he really grew into the fixture as it went on. Great mentality on him.
Yves Bissouma – 7.5 – Didn’t look like his normal composed self in the middle of the park in that first half. Tottenham’s build-up relies on that press resistance from Bissouma, and there were a few too many heavy touches and misplaced passes handing Arsenal dangerous attacks today. In the second half, it was like a switch had been flicked and he was back to his devastating best!
Pape Matar Sarr – 7 – Again, you have to temper expectations for someone so young in their first North London Derby, but I thought Sarr competed really well. He wasn’t as influential going forward as he normally is, but he got through a whole lot of work for the team. He is so neat and tidy in the middle of the park, it can often go unnoticed, but he was a big part of that result today.
James Maddison – 8 – Looked a little rattled after Saka copied his celebration and was lucky not to hand Arsenal a two-goal lead when he gave the ball away on the edge of his own box. But that assist was out of this world, wriggling away from Saka no less to set up Sonny. To make matters better, he robbed Jorginho and set up the second too! Let’s hope that injury doesn’t turn into anything bad.
Dejan Kulusevski – 8 – Really talented at collecting the ball and slowing the game down for a moment, which Spurs needed at times when they were riding waves of Arsenal pressure. Wasn’t at his attacking best in the first half, but everything he did in the second 45 was so precise and calculated, he barely wasted a pass out there.
Heung-min Son – 8.5 – Come on, Sonny! He had barely been in the game up until that first goal, but he tucked his chance away expertly. Son as a striker relies more on balls in behind so he can play on the shoulder, and it took Spurs until the second half to do that. Scored two and could have had a hat-trick!
Brennan Johnson – 7 – Much like Sonny, the whole point of leaving Johnson high and wide seemed to be his electric pace. Yet Spurs didn’t release him nearly often enough. The few times he got to run at White one vs one, he looked dangerous. Hopefully, the injury is not a bad one.
Substitutes:
Manor Solomon – 6 – Worked very hard for the team with his high press which reminded me of Lamela in a North London Derby.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 6.5 – A really tough game to come into the midfield for the last 20 minutes, but I was really impressed by how he steadied the ship and used the ball well.
Richarlison – 6 – So nearly the match-winner with his late deflected shot. Didn’t have too much time on the pitch to really influence proceedings but added a different dimension.
