The North London Derby is a crucial part of any Arsenal season. This has been even more true in recent years. This rivalry match goes back to 1913 when Arsenal relocated their home ground to North London. Without further ado, let’s dive deeper into the history of the derby between Arsenal and Tottenham. This will also discuss its recent results, and its overall significance.
North London Derby: A Brief History
Arsenal and Tottenham first faced each other in a competitive match after Arsenal moved to North London on January 15th, 1921. Tottenham hosted the match at White Hart Lane and won 2-1. After that, the next highly notable match was when Arsenal beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane in 1971 to win the First Division title.
In the Premier League era, there have been many notable matches between Arsenal and Tottenham. The Gunners famously won the Premier League title at White Hart Lane in the 2003-2004 season. The Gunners drew 2-2 with Tottenham in that game.
Additionally, the highest-scoring NLD happened on November 13, 2004. Arsenal won 5-4 against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in that match. In recent years, Arsenal have usually won the home NLD at the Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, Tottenham have often found success when they host the NLD at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In total, Arsenal have won the North London derby 87 times and drew it 55 times, while Tottenham have won it 61 times.
Still, the recent results in the NLD do clearly favor Arsenal. Let’s dive into those results.
The Recent Results in the NLD
Arsenal haven’t lost any of the past four NLD matches. The Gunners won both rivalry matches with Tottenham Hotspur in the 2022-23 season. Arsenal beat Tottenham 3-1 at home before beating them 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In the most recent 2023-24 Premier League campaign, Arsenal drew 2-2 with Tottenham at the Emirates. The Gunners then beat Tottenham 3-2 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after taking a 3-0 lead in the first half. We covered that win in our NLD victory article.
The Overall Significance of the NLD
The North London derby is a heated rivalry match between Arsenal and Tottenham. It is about bragging rights as the best club in North London. However, in recent years, it has affected the title race, with Arsenal finishing second in the Premier League two season in a row. For Tottenham, it holds significance as both a rivalry match and a match that plays a role in the club’s quest for Champions League qualification.
North London Derby: Who is the Top Goal-scorer in the NLD?
Harry Kane has scored the most goals in the NLD with 14. His former teammate, Son Heung-min, is the only current Arsenal or Tottenham player among the top 13 scorers in the NLD. Given Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich as the German club’s star signing, it is possible for Son to match or overtake him. We will see what happens.
Arsenal Transfer Rumors Are Heating Up
The Gunners have been linked with a number of players. The summer transfer window has not officially opened yet, but rumors abound. We will cover these rumors soon. Check back next week for more Arsenal content.