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 hash 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, some key Arsenal vs. Tottenham matches and top player stats.
Plus, a look at how you could attend upcoming grudge matches between the rivals in VIP style.
What is the North London Derby?
When did the North London Derby start?
Arsenal and Spurs 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 Spurs 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 2023, St Totteringham’s Day was celebrated on 21st April.
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
Arsenal vs. Tottenham (Arsenal at home)
11th May 1993 - 1–3
6th December 1993 - 1–1
29th April 1995 - 1–1
15th April 1996 - 0–0
24th November 1996 - 3–1
30th August 1997 - 0-0
14th November 1998 - 0-0
19th March 2000 - 2-1
31st March 2001 - 2-0
6th April 2002 - 2-1
16th November 2002 - 3–0
8th November 2003 - 2–1
25th April 2005 - 1–0
22nd April 2006 - 1–1
2nd December 2006 - 3–0
22nd December 2007 - 2–1
29th October 2008 - 4–4
31st October 2009 - 3-0
20th November 2010 - 2–3
26th February 2012 - 5-2
17th November 2012 - 5-2
1st September 2013 - 1-0
27th September 2014 - 1-1
8th November 2015 - 1-1
6th November 2016 - 1-1
18th November 2017 - 2-0
2nd December 2018 - 4-2
1st September 2019 - 2-2
14th March 2021 - 2-1
26th September 2021 - 3-1
1st October 2022 - 3-1
24th September 2023 - 2-2
Tottenham vs. Arsenal (Tottenham at home)
12th December 1992 - 1-0
16th August 1993 - 0-1
2nd January 1995 - 0-1
18th November 1995 - 2-1
15th February 1997 - 0-0
28th December 1997 - 1-1
5th May 1999 - 1-3
7th November 1999 - 2-1
18th December 2000 - 1-1
17th November 2001 - 1-1
15th December 2002 - 1-1
25th April 2004 - 2-2
13th November 2004 - 4-5
29th October 2005 - 1-1
21st April 2007 - 2-2
15th September 2007 - 1-3
8th February 2009 - 0-0
14th April 2010 - 2-1
20th April 2011 - 3-3
2nd October 2011 - 2-1
3rd March 2013 - 2-1
16th March 2014 - 0-1
7th February 2015 - 2-1
5th March 2016 - 2-2
30th April 2017 - 2-0
10th February 2018 - 1-0
2nd March 2019 - 1-1
12th July 2020 - 2-1
6th December 2020 - 2-0
12th May 2022 - 3-0
15th January 2023 - 0-2
28th April 2024 - 2-3
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.
- Harry Kane - Tottenham Hotspur - 14
- Emmanuel Adebayor - Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal - 10
- Robert Pires - Arsenal - 8
- Son Hueng-min - Tottenham Hotspur - 7
- Gareth Bale - Tottenham Hotspur - 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?
Arsenal and Spurs will have their first face-off of the new football season on Sunday September 15th 2024 - and you can be there with VIP tickets from Seat Unique.
Make sure to be there to experience the Tottenham vs. Arsenal rivalry in person.
North London Derby Matches 2025 - Arsenal vs. Tottenham
The teams are scheduled to play their second Premier League match of the season on Tuesday 14th January 2025.
How can I see the North London Derby with VIP seats?
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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