Feature

Why are Arsenal and Tottenham rivals?

Kai Havertz celebrates scoring against Tottenham Hotspur

Ever since our first meeting in 1887, the rivalry between ourselves and Tottenham has grown ever more intense - and there have been some truly unforgettable moments in that time.

From winning the league at White Hart Lane - twice - to Thierry Henry’s solo goal at Highbury, to Tony Adams' FA Cup semi-final winner to those two incredible 5-2 victories at Emirates Stadium, it is a fixture that never fails to deliver.

Here's why the north London derby has become one of the most-watched games in world football:

WHY ARE ARSENAL AND SPURS RIVALS?

A first meeting between the two clubs came back on December 4, 1909, with us winning the game courtesy of a Walter Lawrence goal at the Manor Ground in Plumstead, south-east London.

However, our rivalry ignited in 1913 when we decided to cross the capital and move north to Highbury, located within four miles of Tottenham’s ground, White Hart Lane.

Spurs, along with Clapton Orient, based in Homerton, lodged an appeal against our relocation which was turned down by the League Management Committee, resulting in us signing a 21-year lease in our new Highbury home, but things reached boiling point in 1919 when we were elected to the First Division following the league’s expansion to 22 clubs, despite us finishing fifth in the Second Division in 1915.

The biggest rumour surrounding promotion involves our former chairman Henry Norris, the man responsible for moving us to Highbury in 1913. He was alleged to have 'influenced' the league chairman and owner of Liverpool, John McKenna, however, these allegations are without foundation.

What is known is that the Gunners won the election by 10 votes, but to this day the rumour remains part of footballing folklore. Whatever the truth, more than 90 years on, we are the only club with continuous top-flight membership since the Football League resumed.

Read more about how our election to the top-flight

WHEN DID ARSENAL WIN THE LEAGUE AT WHITE HART LANE?

The rivalry bubbled away throughout the decades until 1971, when we headed to Tottenham on the final day of the season, needing just a goalless draw to clinch the league title.

Leeds United had completed their season and sat a point ahead of us. Due to the goal average system, used to split teams on the same number of points, we only required a 0-0 draw, but a score draw would not be enough. 

The game was meandering towards a goalless draw when, with three minutes remaining, Charlie George dispossessed Joe Kinnear before crossing to John Radford. His header was parried by Pat Jennings but Geordie Armstrong turned the ball back into the middle where Ray Kennedy headed home off the underside of the bar. Kennedy’s 19th goal of the season sealed the victory as we won the First Division for the first time in 18 years.

Fast forward 33 years to 2004 and, once again, we headed to White Hart Lane knowing a draw would be enough for a third Premier League crown. Desperate to seize the opportunity, we raced out of the blocks and took a third-minute lead when Dennis Bergkamp’s low cross found a sliding Vieira to open the scoring. 

Then our captain turned provider when he cut the ball back for Robert Pires to provide a clinical finish. A little over half an hour had elapsed and we were cruising to the title.

But a second-half rally from the hosts thanks to Jamie Redknapp’s long-range strike and Robbie Keane’s late penalty restored parity in the contest. Despite disappointment at letting a two-goal lead slip, it didn’t matter, we had been crowned champions for the second time at White Hart Lane.