Tottenham vs Arsenal : 10 Best North London Derbies Ever
The rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur is one of the most fierce rivalries in Britain. Both Arsenal and Tottenham fans have recognised each other as one of their biggest rivals and their derby is one of the most anticipated match in English football. Contests between these two have led to many exciting matches and today let us have a look at some of the best North London derbies ever.
Here are the top 10 best North London derbies ever –
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10. Tottenham 3-1 Arsenal (1991)
This was the first FA Cup semi-final played between the two sides. Many fans were hoping to see Spurs star Paul Gascoigne continue his brilliant form, following dazzling goals against Oxford, Portsmouth and Notts County in the earlier rounds.
Five minutes into the game, Gascoigne scored from a 35 yard free kick that was hit with such power and accuracy that it left Seaman clutching at thin air.
Five minutes later Gary Lineker increased Spurs’ lead. Arsenal scored just before half-time through Alan Smith but Lineker scored the third after 78 minutes to take Spurs to the Final. Gazza played for only an hour but left to an ovation – ’Spurs Hero of Wembley’ but everyone played their part in this memorable victory.
9. Tottenham 0-5 Arsenal (1978)
The Christmas period of 1978 brought an unexpected gift for Arsenal.It was an unforgettable outcome on an afternoon the Gunners produced arguably their greatest performance during manager Terry Neill’s seven years at the helm.
In a team containing Pat Rice, Arsenal tore their north London neighbours – who had just been promoted – apart. Alan Sunderland grabbed a hat-trick, Frank Stapleton also got on the score sheet and Liam Brady’s edge of the area screamer was pure brilliance.
Neill’s side went on to finish seventh, four places above Tottenham that season. The result remains Arsenal’s biggest post-war triumph at White Hart Lane.
8. Tottenham 5-0 Arsenal (1983)
Spurs waited 5 years before they could humiliate their great rivals by the same scoreline they suffered against them in 1978.
Chris Hughton opened the scoring at White Hart Lane before Mark Falco scored a couple of volleys against an Arsenal defence that looked like they would rather be anywhere else. In a fitting summary of the game Falco’s first goal was a stunner, and his second was the product of simply woeful defending.
By the time Alan Brazil completed the rout the Gunners had been utterly humiliated. This is among one of the best North London derbies ever.
7. Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (2004)
Gunners went through the season without losing a single Premier League game.Spurs were fired up for the clash, as a victory would have ended Arsenal’s run and delayed their celebrations
However it wasn’t to be as Arsenal claimed the Premiership title at White Hart Lane after drawing with rivals Spurs. It will always be among the best North London derbies ever for Arsenal fans.
Pires and Vieira set the visitors on course for a comfortable afternoon and, although Jamie Redknapp and Keane pulled it back to 2-2, the draw would still have felt like a defeat to Tottenham.
6. Tottenham 0-6 Arsenal (1935)
In that season Arsenal went on to win the league while Spurs were relegated after finishing at the bottom of the table.
Going into the game Arsenal were far from assured of the title, level on points with Sunderland at the top of the table, and Tottenham were still scrapping for survival, only a point from safety with a game in hand on Middlesbrough and Wolves,making it a must win for both the teams.
But the home side were obliterated, with two goals each for Ted Drake and Alfred John Kirchen.
The defeat sent them into a downward spiral as didn’t win any of the next seven games, and plummeted to the foot of the table, prompting a 15-year absence from the top flight.
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5. Tottenham 3-3 Arsenal (2011)
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were dealt another devastating blow as they squandered a two-goal lead to draw a north London derby classic with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Arsenal had drawn five of their last six games going into this north London derby, but were still within touching distance of leaders Manchester United. A win over Tottenham would have got their title hopes back on track.
Theo Walcott and Rafael van der Vaart both scored earlier before Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie gave Arsenal a two-goal advantage. But Tom Huddlestone and van der Vaart scored to claw a deserved point.
4. Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham (2010)
Tottenham staged a stunning comeback to win at Arsenal for the first time in 17 years and wreck the Gunners’ hopes of going top of the Premier League.
Arsenal took a two-goal lead at the interval courtesy of goals from Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh.
Spurs, after being comprehensively outplayed, then embarked on an unlikely revival that not only saw them wipe out Arsenal’s comfortable advantage but go on to take all three points.
Gareth Bale started the recovery with a fine finish five minutes after the break, before Rafael van der Vaart levelled from the spot after Cesc Fabregas inexplicably handled his free-kick.
And with only five minutes left Younes Kaboul reduced the vast majority of The Emirates gallery to silence when he headed Van der Vaart’s free-kick low past Lukasz Fabianski.
Arsenal, stunned, had no response to offer as Wenger was left to sift through the wreckage of this damaging defeat.
3. Tottenham 5-1 Arsenal (2008)
A scintillating performance by Tottenham saw them run riot against Arsenal to book a place in the Carling Cup final.
Jenas’ very early strike set the tone for a memorable night for Spurs and Bendtner’s own goal gave them a comfortable cushion. Robbie Keane, Lennon and Steed Malbranque completed the rout while Adebayor netted a consolation for the Gunners.
The best moment for Tottenham fans would not have been the goals, but the sight of Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor fighting in the middle of the match, summing up a shambolic Arsenal display.
Juande Ramos’ side went on to beat Chelsea in the final and claim their first trophy of the new Millennium.
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2. Tottenham 4-5 Arsenal (2004)
Arsène Wenger’s side got the best of a nine-goal thriller at White Hart Lane in one of the best North London derbies ever.
Noureddine Naybet volleyed Spurs ahead before Thierry Henry levelled in first- half injury-time and Lauren’s penalty put Arsenal ahead after 53 minutes.
Patrick Vieira added a third on the hour, and even though Jermain Defoe’s strike gave Spurs hope, Freddie Ljungberg restored the two-goal lead.
Ledley King headed Spurs’ third, and even after Robert Pires hit Arsenal’s fifth, Freddie Kanoute was on target to make it 4-5.
Arsenal had just seen their 49-game unbeaten run end at Manchester United followed by two disappointing draws against Southampton and Crystal Palace. This win not only put them back on track but condemned Tottenham to a fifth-straight loss.
1. Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham (2008)
Spurs were struggling when Redknapp took charge and needed something to spark them back into life. But nobody could have scripted a more exciting tale than what actually happened at Emirates Stadium.
David Bentley’s brilliant early strike put Spurs ahead, but Mikael Silvestre headed Arsenal level before half-time.
William Gallas put Arsenal in front seconds after the re-start and Emmanuel Adebayor bundled home their third.Darren Bent pulled one back before Robin van Persie added Arsenal’s fourth.
When Jenas curled in a clever finish with a minute of normal time remaining, it looked like it would provide nothing more than an anxious finale for the Gunners.
But with seconds left of the four minutes of injury time, Luka Modric’s shot was deflected on to an upright and substitute Lennon was in the perfect position to slot in the rebound and spark wild scenes of celebration from the Spurs contingent.
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