One of the fiercest rivalries in English football is that between North London neighbours Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. The feud began in 1913 when Arsenal moved to Highbury, only a few miles away from Tottenham's White Hart Lane. Inevitably, this led to a battle for the emerging football fans in the area and rivalries shot up which divided the community, families, school friends and work colleagues. Tottenham certainly saw this move by Arsenal as hostile, and the famous North London rivalry was born.
The Spurs (Tottenham’s nickname) have always taken great pride in the style of football they play; free-flowing, attack-minded, adventurous football has invariably been a hallmark of Spurs teams over the years. From the 1960s teams of Danny Blanchflower and Jimmy Greaves, through the 1970s with Martin Peters and Steve Perryman, into the 1980s with Glenn Hoddle and the Argentinean duo of Ossie Ardilles and Ricky Villa, and beyond … the Spurs have always sought to entertain.
Until recent years, on the other hand, Arsenal have had to endure less flattering labels, ‘Lucky’ and ‘boring’ were the chants hurled at them by opposing fans in the latter decades of the last Millennium.
'Lucky' stemmed from their style of play in the 1920s and 30s under the great Herbert Chapman, which involved soaking up the pressure at the back and then scoring breakaway goals on the counter-attack. The 'boring' tag came about much more recently, and resulted from the side's success being built on a defensive rather than attacking foundation, typified by manager George Graham’s sides.
Nowadays, under the Frenchman Arsène Wenger, Arsenal’s football is seen as more classy, exciting and sophisticated. You might say they are now impersonating their great rivals Spurs, and have stolen their mantle as the North London side with the most flair. However, with players like Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon in their ranks, Spurs are enjoying something of a revival in this private style war.
Arsenal and Spurs both have impressive trophy cabinets but Arsenal’s is fuller and less dusty.
Spurs have won two league titles (including the league and F.A. Cup double in 1960-61 – their last league title), eight F.A. Cups, four League Cups (including one this year – their first trophy for nine years) a European Cup-Winners’ Cup and two UEFA Cups, the last in 1984.
Arsenal have won 13 league titles (the last in 2004 and including three league and F.A. Cup doubles in 1970-71, 1997-98 and 2001-02), ten F.A. Cups, two League Cups, one European Cup-Winners’ Cup and one UEFA Cup..
But the individual battles between these clubs are almost as important as the silverware.
The first ‘clash’ between the sides was hardly that at all: a friendly on 19th November 1887 on Tottenham Marshes. Watched by a mere handful of spectators, it was brought to a premature close 15 minutes from time because of bad light, with Spurs leading the then Royal Arsenal 2-1. Fast-forward to the 1991 FA Cup Semi-final and from the handful of fans a hundred years before to a demand for tickets that saw Wembley – normally reserved only for the Final – having to be used. (The game lived up to expectations, with a Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne-inspired Spurs winning 3-1 … and going on to win the Cup itself).
Arsenal fans may point to their 5-0 victory over Spurs (at White Hart Lane!) in 1978 as their most famous win in the North London derby (an Alan Sunderland hat-trick, fuelled by a masterful display from magical midfielder Liam Brady, who also scored). Spurs fans would probably vote for the fresh-in-the-memory 5-1 demolition of (an admittedly second-string) Arsenal in the Semi-final of this year’s League Cup, which Spurs went on to win.
Since the Premier League came into existence in the early 90s, Arsenal have won 13 of the derbies, Spurs just five and 14 have been drawn. Spurs have a lot of catching up to do, but they will have to wait a bit: Arsenal already have the double over them this season!
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