Last updated 04.03.2025 at 11:35am
Of all of football’s deepest rivalries, the North London Derby is one of the most competitive and intense in English football, if not the world.
Each year, north London neighbours Arsenal and Tottenham battle it out in the Premier League - and this year will be no different, with the teams due to go head-to-head again very soon for the first of at least two matches against one another.
In this blog, we’ll take an in-depth look at the history of the Tottenham vs. Arsenal derby and what makes it special, a full list of past results and key players that have made an impact.
Plus, a look at how you could attend upcoming grudge matches between the rivals in VIP style.
Book Arsenal Hospitality tickets Book Tottenham Hotspur Hospitality ticketsWhat is the North London Derby?
When did the North London Derby start?
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs have been playing one another since 1887. However, the North London Derby started as we know it in 1913.
How did Arsenal vs. Tottenham rivalry begin?
The competition truly began when the Gunners moved across the river from south to north London in 1913.
Before this, Arsenal’s home ground was situated in Woolwich, south east London. When the team decided to move north, they built Highbury Stadium - which was considered to be on Tottenham Hotspurs turf.
This sparked the rivalry between the two teams, with their grounds just a few miles away from one another.
What is St Totteringham’s Day?
St Totteringham’s Day is a lighthearted name for the time in the season when statistically, Arsenal have taken a spot in the Premier League that Spurs cannot beat by mathematical possibility.
This is a time of great celebration for Arsenal (and of course, a chance to gloat).
Both teams have lots to shout about when it comes to their footballing history, but over the years, Arsenal have traditionally ranked higher than Spurs, with 14 FA cups and 13 league titles under their belt.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have eight FA Cup wins, and two league titles.
The term is thought to have come about in 2002 via Arsenal fan forums online.
In 2024, St Totteringham’s Day was celebrated on 28th April. In the current season with Arsenal 2nd in the league and Tottenham in 13th it feels like St. Totteringham's Day could be celebrated earlier this year.
North London Derby results summary
Over the years, there have been some fierce, and extremely exciting North London Derbies, including the highest ever scoring match, 5-4 to Arsenal, in November 2004.
You can read more about the very best of the North London Derbies in our blog here.
North London Derby Full List of Results
| Date | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 11th May 1993 | Arsenal Home | 1–3 |
| 6th December 1993 | Arsenal Home | 1–1 |
| 29th April 1995 | Arsenal Home | 1–1 |
| 15th April 1996 | Arsenal Home | 0–0 |
| 12th December 1992 | Tottenham Home | 1-0 |
| 16th August 1993 | Tottenham Home | 0-1 |
| 2nd January 1995 | Tottenham Home | 0-1 |
| 18th November 1995 | Tottenham Home | 2-1 |
| 24th November 1996 | Arsenal Home | 3–1 |
| 30th August 1997 | Arsenal Home | 0-0 |
| 28th December 1997 | Tottenham Home | 1-1 |
| 14th November 1998 | Arsenal Home | 0-0 |
| 5th May 1999 | Tottenham Home | 1-3 |
| 19th March 2000 | Arsenal Home | 2-1 |
| 7th November 1999 | Tottenham Home | 2-1 |
| 18th December 2000 | Tottenham Home | 1-1 |
| 31st March 2001 | Arsenal Home | 2-0 |
| 17th November 2001 | Tottenham Home | 1-1 |
| 6th April 2002 | Arsenal Home | 2-1 |
| 15th December 2002 | Tottenham Home | 1-1 |
| 16th November 2002 | Arsenal Home | 3–0 |
| 8th November 2003 | Arsenal Home | 2–1 |
| 25th April 2004 | Tottenham Home | 2-2 |
| 25th April 2005 | Arsenal Home | 1–0 |
| 22nd April 2006 | Arsenal Home | 1–1 |
| 2nd December 2006 | Arsenal Home | 3–0 |
| 22nd December 2007 | Arsenal Home | 2–1 |
| 29th October 2008 | Arsenal Home | 4–4 |
| 31st October 2009 | Arsenal Home | 3-0 |
| 20th November 2010 | Arsenal Home | 2–3 |
| 26th February 2012 | Arsenal Home | 5-2 |
| 17th November 2012 | Arsenal Home | 5-2 |
| 1st September 2013 | Arsenal Home | 1-0 |
| 27th September 2014 | Arsenal Home | 1-1 |
| 28th April 2024 | Tottenham Home | 2-3 |
| 15th September 2024 | Tottenham Home | 0-1 |
| 15th January 2025 | Arsenal Home | 2-1 |
North London Derby top scorers
This list of the Spurs and Arsenal top scorers features players in bold who are still playing for their team, plus the number of goals they scored during Tottenham vs. Arsenal matches.
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Kane | Tottenham Hotspur | 14 |
| 2 | Emmanuel Adebayor | Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal | 10 |
| 3 | Robert Pires | Arsenal | 9 |
| 4 | Son Heung-min | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 |
| 5 | Ian Wright | Arsenal | 6 |
| 6 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal | 5 |
| 6 | Gareth Bale | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 |
| 6 | Robin van Persie | Arsenal | 5 |
| 6 | Patrick Vieira | Arsenal | 5 |
| 6 | Theo Walcott | Arsenal | 5 |
Highest attendance
The highest ever attendance to date was 1st October 2022 at the Emirates Stadium, when Arsenal played at home. On that day, Arsenal won 3-1, with a crowd that was 60,278 strong.
Players who played for both teams in the North London Derby
Over the years, there’s been a list of 15 players who crossed the divide and played for both Spurs and Arsenal during the Premier League era - which is, of course, very controversial with fans!
Due to the strong rivalry between the two teams, this doesn’t happen very often - and when it does, it makes plenty of newspaper headlines.
Here’s the list of the 15 players who have crossed the line - and got a fair amount of stick from fans for doing so.
1. Sol Campbell
In 2001, Arsene Wenger made the controversial decision to sign Spurs captain Sol Campbell on a free transfer.
It came as a huge shock to fans, as Campbell was such an important figure at Tottenham - until he was swiped by Wenger.
As a result, he was often heavily booed by Spurs fans during North London Derbies - and extra security was also deployed.
2. Emmanuel Adebayor
The Togolese player was one of Arsenal’s top scorers until he decided to move to Manchester City in 2009, angering Arsenal fans.
But it was his next move, to Tottenham in 2011, that really stirred the pot. When he scored for Spurs to take a 1-0 lead in the 2012 North London Derby, fans weren’t pleased.
But he was eventually sent off, and Arsenal went on to win the game 5-2 in an exciting match that is the stuff of legend.
3. William Gallas
French international footballer William Gallas managed to whip up hate among Arsenal fans, where he was initially captain after a swap deal with Ashley Cole, who headed off to Chelsea.
Gallas ended up as Arsenal captain, but was eventually stripped of the title after a series of controversial incidents, with the BBC reporting that these included publicly verbally attacking the team.
He then defected to Spurs on a free transfer, where he captained his new side in a 3-2 win at Emirates, to rub salt into the wound.
The remaining players who swapped sides are as follows:
4. Rohan Ricketts
5. David Bentley
6. Jimmy Brain
7. George Hunt
8. Freddie Cox
9. Vic Groves
10. Laurie Brown
11. Jimmy Robertson
12. David Jenkins
13. Steve Walford
14. Willie Young
15. Pat Jennings
When is the next North London Derby?
The nest Arsenal Tottenham Hotspurs Derby will be in the 2025/2026 season.
Get North London Derby VIP tickets
The Seat Unique online booking platform is a great way to secure hospitality and VIP tickets for Premier League games.
You’ll elevate your experience with luxury added extras, such as premium padded seats, inclusive food and drink, and more. Plus, it’s so much easier to guarantee your spot at your team’s upcoming games at the next Arsenal vs. Tottenham derby without the need for a club membership.
Make sure to grab your spot at the next unmissable North London Derby with some of the best views in the house, via Seat Unique.
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