Sleepless nights are generally the tell-tale symptom of a guilty conscience, but for Jermaine Jenas a few hours of tossing and turning was a small price to pay for one of the most satisfying evenings of his professional life.

It was already gone midnight on Thursday when the 25-year-old returned home to reflect on Tottenham's 4-4 draw with Arsenal but there was only thing on his mind: to relive those 90 minutes in all their breathless brilliance.

"I couldn't wait to watch it again," Jenas said, his eyes sparkling despite the bags. "The moment I got in, I put on a recording of the game the whole match, not just the highlights.

"I struggle to sleep after matches anyway but after this one? No chance! I don't think I actually dropped off until about 5am."

Jenas was probably not alone in wanting to study video footage of Tottenham's remarkable resurrection in the 143rd north London derby. But there it is, in stark black and white: Arsenal 4 Tottenham 4, with goals from Jenas (89) and Lennon (90) already etched into the capital's sporting folklore.

It is the kind of result on which seasons turn. Beating Bolton in Harry Redknapp's first match in charge felt like a formality: scrubbing out a two-goal deficit in the back-yard of your fiercest rivals suggests Tottenham's recovery will be permanent.

Jenas is more circumspect, observing that the late flurry of goals at the Emirates still yielded just a point, but there can be no denying the pep such a result can provide for morale.

"We've been through a lot of tough times over the last couple of months and a lot of defeats," he added. "Every time I looked at the League table, there was embarrassment, anger, annoyance, you name it. But because of the way we got the result and the fact it came in the derby, there's an incredible buzz now for the first time this season."

Already, it appears 'Harry Houdini' has delved into his box of tricks and Spurs Lodge has a brighter feel. Juande Ramos' strict dietary routine has been relaxed, fringe players such as Paul Stalteri, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Hossam Ghaly, who had been training with the youth team, have been handed squad numbers and players who looked frightened a fortnight ago are now daring to express themselves.

"There's been a completely different attitude around the place," Jenas admitted, at the opening of the Puma store in Westfield London yesterday. "It's much more relaxed and a lot of players have reacted well.

"Harry's perfect at that, the man-management side of the game. Already I can understand why he's been so successful. I think everyone's had a lift. The feel-good factor spreads quickly."

Jenas is one of the few Tottenham players who did not need a pick-me-up from Redknapp, the club's worst ever start to a League campaign a poor return for perhaps his finest displays since joining in 2005.

There has also been a toughening in his attitude. This season, the nice, well-spoken boy from Nottingham has learned how to snarl.

"I'm two people one guy off the pitch and another different one on it," he said. "I've gone into games with some of my best friends and as soon as the whistle goes, I've just smashed them.

"It might be to do with age. I've always wanted to take games by the scruff of the neck and make something happen.

"You can sense it sometimes in matches, when a game is slipping away and you need a bit of a spark. I think I'm learning to do that now."

Jenas is already targeting England's international friendly in Germany next month as Fabio Capello has vowed to blood some of his fringe players. But first there is the visit of Liverpool, the Premier League leaders, to White Hart Lane tomorrow

"It's a game for us to get our teeth into," he said. "They are on a run, top of the league and buzzing, but we believe in ourselves now. We're sure we can get a result."

After Arsenal, it seems anything is possible.