Kyle Walker says there’s something he didn’t understand about Arsenal when he signed for Tottenham

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Kyle Walker has revealed that there was something that he wasn’t aware of about Arsenal when he signed for Tottenham.

The right-back spent eight years at Spurs between 2009 and 2017, making 229 appearances in the process.

He left for Manchester City for £50 million in 2017, where he caused Arsenal significantly more damage by beating the Gunners to the Premier League title in two successive seasons between 2022 and 2024.

However, it was his spell in North London at White Hart Lane that ultimately created animosity towards him from Arsenal supporters.

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Kyle Walker says he wasn’t aware of the magnitude of the North London Derby before signing for Tottenham

Walker broke into the Spurs first team in the 2011/12 campaign, establishing himself as the Lilywhites’ first-choice right-back.

A key part of Mauricio Pochettino’s team that went close to winning the title in 2016 and 2017, the England international was a cog in a Spurs team that had the upper hand on Arsenal for a brief period.

However, the Gunners generally had the better of their North London counterparts throughout Walker’s time in the capital city.

In October 2011, in the full-back’s first season as a regular at Spurs, he scored a stunning winning goal in a North London derby at White Hart Lane.

Speaking about this strike and the rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham in general, Walker said he didn’t really understand the magnitude of the derby before he signed for Spurs.

“Obviously being from Sheffield, not really understanding the North London Derby as much when I signed there,” he said to Sky Sports.

“I didn’t get it, but when you get to the game, the rivalry is so big. When I scored that I knew what it meant to the fans and it’s one that lived long in my memory.”

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This season’s North London Derbies will be special for Arsenal

Last campaign, Arsenal strolled to victory over Tottenham both home and away.

Spurs weren’t able to compete with a Gunners team who were superior to them in every aspect of the game, with Ange Postecoglou’s side ultimately finishing the season in 17th place.

This term, under Thomas Frank, Tottenham should give Arsenal a sterner test. That said, the red and white side should still be far too good for the Lilywhites, while victories over their fierce rivals could come in the midst of a title-winning season.

Arsenal host Spurs this month, immediately after the international break, before the reverse fixture takes place in the second half of February.

Not only do Mikel Arteta’s team have a chance of doing the double over their neighbours, each of these potential victories could be significant in putting them in a strong position to win the title.