Tottenham player ratings in 2-2 draw at Arsenal
By Gary Pearson
Tottenham showed their togetherness and resilience in another solid away outing, taking a share of the spoils from the Emirates thanks to Son Heung-min’s exquisite brace.
It’s another stepping stone for Ange’s side, who showed belief and played fearlessly. Tottenham came from behind twice and could have won. However, a tie is a fair result considering all facets.
Aside from a Brennan Johnson first-half miss, Spurs were lethal in front of goal, scoring on two of four shots on goal. Overall, it was an outstanding performance in a hostile environment Spurs have previously struggled at.
Here are the player ratings in an impressive draw at the Emirates.
Defence
Guglielmo Vicario 7/10
Spurs’ No. 1 made a sensational save on Jesus early in the first half to keep the score level. He didn’t have a chance on either goal and was otherwise solid.
Cristian Romero 6/10
Despite his best intentions and hard-nosed effort, Cristian Romero endured a few moments he won’t want to rehash. He wasn’t able to sort his feet out on the opener, knocking behind Vicario for an own goal. While he didn’t know too much about it, his inadvertent hand ball led to Arsenal’s penalty early in the second half.
Micky van de Ven 7.5/10
Surprisingly, Micky van de Ven wasn’t tested one on one the way I thought he would be. Despite not being singled out, van de Ven had another impressive performance. He only made one tackle and had one clearance but was a beacon of confidence and composure.
Pedro Porro 7.5/10
Pedro Porro gets forward exceptionally well. He offers a constant threat in the attacking third and has significantly improved his defensive play. He’s an irreplaceable asset in the first team. He made one mistake at the end of the game but was excellent otherwise.
Destiny Udogie 8/10
Like Porro, Destiny Udogie played very well. He is a already a sensation and will continue to improve as he gains more experience. He was caught in possession a couple of times in the first half but offers so much going forward and defensively. His athleticism is awe-inspiring.
Midfield
James Maddison 8/10
Spurs’ playmaker endured a few troublesome moments in the first half, including a giveaway that led to a golden Jesus chance. Luckily, Arsenal’s forward sizzled it over from close range.
Maddison set up Sonny for his first-half equalizer and repeated the act for Sonny’s second. His knee injury is concerning, but he was able to continue for a while before being withdrawn.
You’ve gotta love what this man brings to the side. Mistakes will happen but his skill, endeavour, and passion are top tier.
Yves Bissouma 8/10
Spurs’ engine room was exactly that. He had three solid tackles and connected on 93 percent of his passes. Love the passion he unerringly plays with. He’s a superb No. 6, creating the bedrock of Spurs’ defence, while providing the fulcrum for attack too.
Pape Sarr 6.5/10
Pape Sarr’s passing and final ball let him down in the first half, an expected implication of a youngster playing in his first Premier League North London Derby. However, his work rate inspires and his energy is endless. He closes down exceptionally fast and doesn’t shy away from the biggest occasions.
Forwards and Subs
Son Heung-min 9/10
What a captain’s performance from Sonny, who scored a fantastic brace. His composure in front of goal playing centrally is outstanding. He didn’t impact play for large portions of the match but was lethal when he needed to be.
What a legend.
Brennan Johnson 6/10
Spurs’ newbie asserted himself well before going off with a knock. Had he caught the ball true, he would have scored in the first half. His slightly flubbed shot was saved brilliantly by David Raya.
Dejan Kulusevski 7/10
For the most part, Dejan did Dejan things at the Emirates, marauding down the right wing with guile and intent. He made one key pass but wasn’t able to muster an attempt on target.
Manor Solomon 6/10
Manor Solomon popped in off the bench and covered a lot of ground during his cameo. He wasn’t able to impact proceedings how he wanted but still offers a threat.