Son Heung-min scores penalty in 3-2 north London derby loss

LONDON — Son Heung-min scored his 16th goal of the 2023-24 season on Sunday as Tottenham Hotspur lost 3-2 to Arsenal in a fiercely-contested north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Tottenham's Son Heung-min reacts at the end of a Premier League match against Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 28. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

LONDON — Son Heung-min scored his 16th goal of the 2023-24 season on Sunday as Tottenham Hotspur lost 3-2 to Arsenal in a fiercely-contested north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Son struck in the 87th minute, scoring a penalty after a foul on Ben Davies. That effort, slotted calmly past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, took the score to 3-2, with the Lilywhites unable to find an equalizer in stoppage time.

Tottenham fell behind quickly in the first half. The Gunners got on the board in the 15th minute when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg headed a Bukayo Saka corner into his own net.

Saka added one more of his own 10 minutes later, pushing through in front of goal on a speedy counterattack and beating keeper Guglielmo Vicario to put the visitors up 2-0. Kai Havertz added No. 3 in the 38th minute, leaving Spurs going into the break down 3-0.

Tottenham eventually rallied in the second half, although it was more luck than anything that Ange Postecoglou’s squad did that got them on the scoreboard.

Tottenham's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot during a Premier League match against Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 28. [EPA/YONHAP]

After a quiet start from both sides, Spurs found their first goal in the 64th minute. It came from Cristian Romero, who was in the right place at the right to receive a poorly passed ball from Raya and fire it straight back past the Arsenal keeper.

Son’s goal 20 minutes later made it 3-2, but Arsenal had little trouble holding on for the final few minutes to take the three points and remain in contention for the Premier League title.

Spurs, meanwhile, remain in fifth place, seven points behind Aston Villa but with two games in hand. In the Premier League, finishing in the top four earns a club a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

“It was a disappointing day for us,” Spurs manager Postecoglou said after the match. “It was a big game, a big game for the club, for our fans. We didn't get the outcome we wanted so obviously very disappointing.

“We wanted to win today for our supporters and for the club. We didn't do that and whatever I think about the performance it's still the outcome that sits on you. I thought our general football was good, was decent. We controlled the game for long periods for the most part but we know that. We know we're a team that can do that.”

Captain Son was fairly quiet throughout the game, creating a couple of chances in the first half but then was largely marginalized after being pushed out to the wing in the second. Son was replaced in the middle by Richarlison, but the Brazilian international was unable to make much of a stamp on the game.

Spurs will be back in action on Thursday as they take on Chelsea on the road, before heading north to Liverpool next weekend. Burnley follow at home on May 11, with the Lilywhites then set to host league leaders Manchester City on May 14 before finishing the season on the road against Sheffield United on May 19.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]