The North London Derby is one of English football’s most intense rivalries as both Arsenal and Tottenham battle for bragging rights.
Over the years, some of the best Premier League clashes have come from the two teams duelling in the capital city.
Unlike some rivalries out there, the North London Derby rarely disappoints as the intensity and passion from the stands translate onto the pitch.
With Arsenal and Tottenham set to face off at least two times again this season, everyone will be prepared for another few gripping encounters.
So with that said, here’s a look at everything you need to know about the North London Derby, from its origins to more recent history.
When did the North London Derby start?
While Arsenal and Tottenham have been facing off since 1887, the rivalry hadn’t truly kickstarted until around 1913.
The Gunners decided to move from south-east London to the north of the city, building Highbury Stadium to compete at.
At the time, this was considered to be part of the Spurs territory, with White Hart Lane located just a few miles away.
As a result, the two teams were now local rivals, beginning an era of the North London Derby which is now over 110 years old.
The last North London Derby at Highbury Stadium
Highbury Stadium was the home of Arsenal for just shy of 100 years, becoming the iconic home for the club.
Their move to the Emirates Stadium in 2006 came as a huge shift in time and history, saying goodbye to a place which housed some of the Gunners’ most iconic memories.
With the two clubs chasing down a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League, it came as a shock when Arsene Wenger rested key players.
Arsenal put plenty of pressure on their rivals but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Tottenham in the final North London Derby at Highbury.
The last North London Derby at White Hart Lane
Similar to Arsenal, Tottenham eventually moved away from their iconic home stadium White Hart Lane – vacating it in 2017.
In April of that year, Spurs hosted the final North London Derby at the ground and ended their time there in ideal fashion.
The Lilywhites ran out 2-0 winners over the Gunners as goals from Dele Alli and Harry Kane secured a win for the hosts.
North London Derby head-to-head results history
| Arsenal win | 87 |
| Drawn | 55 |
| Tottenham win | 67 |
The North London Derby has been hotly contested over the years, but it’s Arsenal who have had the upper hand through history.
Arsenal have won 87 North London Derby clashes against Tottenham, while Spurs have only registered 67 victories.
The match has been drawn 55 times, with the teams often playing out high-scoring draws in those instances – the last 0-0 draw was in 2009.
What is the biggest North London Derby win for Arsenal and Tottenham?
While the two teams have often been evenly matched, there are times when one can thrash the other – much to the amusement of their fans.
Arsenal’s biggest wins in the North London Derby during the Premier League era both came in 2012, with 5-2 wins coming in February and then November.
In 1934 the Gunners also managed a 5-1 victory over Spurs in Division One – which was their biggest aggregate win.
As for Tottenham, they have dished out a few beatings as well, with three 5-0s and one 5-1 scoreline to their name.
Those three five-goal wins game in 1901, 1911 and 1983 in their respective leagues, while the 5-1 win came in the 2008 League Cup.
Last 10 North London Derby results
The last ten North London Derby clashes have been hotly contested, with both teams gaining the upper hand on each other at different points.
Here are the last ten results of Arsenal v Tottenham:
- April 2024: Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal
- September 2023: Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
- January 2023: Tottenham 0-2 Arsenal
- October 2022: Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham
- May 2022: Tottenham 3-0 Arsenal
- September 2021: Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham
- March 2021: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
- December 2020: Tottenham 2-0 Arsenal
- July 2020: Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal
- September 2019: Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
| Arsenal win | 5 |
| Drawn | 2 |
| Tottenham win | 3 |
What is St. Totteringham’s Day?
The Arsenal fans created an unofficial holiday called “St. Totteringham’s Day” for the day they are mathematically confirmed to finish above their rivals Tottenham.
It’s another amusing layer to the rivalry, with the concept of the holiday created in the early 2000s.
St. Totteringham’s Day didn’t occur from 2017 to 2022, due to Spurs finishing higher in the league, but has been back ever since.
Arsenal win the Premier League at White Hart Lane
If there is one place you want to win a league title, it’s against your nearest and dearest rivals at their own stadium.
Well, that’s exactly what Arsenal did in 2004 as they won the Premier League title at White Hart Lane in front of the home supporters.
The Gunners only needed a point to clinch the trophy, drawing 2-2 in the clash to lift the trophy as their own.
That season would later see Arsenal go unbeaten, later becoming known as “The Invincibles”, a feat which hasn’t been repeated in the Premier League era yet.
- READ MORE: Who are The Invincibles? Meet the Arsenal record-breakers who became Premier League legends
Tottenham’s “lasagna-gate” helps Arsenal seal Champions League
The North London Derby often transcends just matches against each other, with the two teams still jockeying for position in the table.
In 2006, both Arsenal and Tottenham were looking to secure a place in the top four and qualification for the Champions League.
Spurs were in the driving seat ahead of their final match of the season against West Ham, but disaster struck for the side.
Many of the squad were stricken with illness, which was later blamed on a pre-match meal of lasagna.
The meal was later cleared of being the cause of the issue, but that didn’t help Tottenham as their depleted team fell to defeat against the Hammers.
Arsenal took advantage, sealing a place in the Champions League in a saga dubbed “Lasagna-gate”.
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