The North London derby is one of the most eagerly anticipated games in the Premier League calendar. When the fixtures are drawn at the start of the season, it’s the first clash that Spurs and Arsenal fans look for.
For many years, Arsenal were considered to be the more dominant side. However, the dynamics have changed slightly during the last decade. Spurs are refusing to roll over. In fact, despite not winning a major trophy, Mauricio Pochettino’s side has grabbed most of the headlines.
While the Gunners were stagnant towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s tenure, the Argentine was building an elite squad who’d go on to appear in the Champions League final.
However, it’s clear to see that Arsenal are taking a new direction under Unai Emery. Many fans, pundits, and football betting tipsters suspect it won’t be long until Arsenal are basking in glory once again.
In terms of the NLD, we’ve been treated to some classics down the years. Both teams might have moved to new stadiums, but the rivalry and atmosphere are still as fierce as ever. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the most thrilling derbies of all time. Here are some of our favourites:
Arsenal 4 – 2 Tottenham (December 2018)
You only have to go back as far as last season to find a thrilling encounter between these two sides. The Gunners emerged with a fantastic win thanks to a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira.
Jan Vertonghen added to the drama when he received a red card in the 85th minute. This game truly had it all. Goals, red cards, and end-to-end attacking play. For that reason, we consider it to be an all-time classic.
Tottenham 3 – 3 Arsenal (April 2011)
There were plenty of epic encounters at the old White Hart Lane Stadium. A game that occurred on the 20th April 2011 springs to mind on this occasion. Spurs fought back from 3-1 down and managed to grab a point thanks to goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Tom Huddlestone.
Theo Walcott opened the scoring after just 5 minutes that day. Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie also grabbed goals for Arsenal in front of a sellout crowd.
Tottenham 4 – 5 Arsenal (November 2004)
If you forgot about this one, we’re here to remind you that it’s still one of the best North London derbies of all time. The season after the invincibles were crowned champions, Arsene Wenger took his side to White Hart Lane and beat Spurs in epic fashion.
The game didn’t really get going until the second half, but when Lauren scored a penalty in the 55th minute, nobody could have predicted what was about to unfold. Seven goals in the second half from Defoe, King, Kanouté, Lauren, Vieira, Ljungberg, and Pires cemented this fixtures place in the history books.
READ MORE: Four Players That Crossed the North London Divide Between Arsenal and Spurs
The Season Ahead
As we look ahead to the first NLD of the season, keep these incredible games in mind. These games rarely pass by without any fireworks. Hopefully, we’ll be treated to another monumental clash.
