Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur Match History 1887-2012

[THFC6061 4]

Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in the 26th round of 2011-12 Premier League matches on Sunday 26th February 2012.

Arsenal come into the North London Derby in 4th place on 43 points, while Spurs are in 3rd place on 53 points.

This will be the 249th time the two teams have met.

Spurs v Arsenal is now one of the great rivalries in World Football but the fixture had very different beginings back in November 1887 when the clubs first met in a friendly played on Tottenham Marshes. Arsenal, then called Royal Arsenal, had been formed just a year earlier as Dial Square and were essentially the works team for the munitions factory situated in Woolwich, Kent, while Spurs who had been formed some five years earlier in 1882 still had many of the youngsters who founded the club playing for them. Spurs won that first encounter 2-1, although the game was cut short by 15 minutes, due to poor light conditions because of the Arsenal team turning-up late for the start.

Seven more friendlies were played between the two clubs from 1888 to 1896 with Spurs winning four and Arsenal winning three before their first competitive match in March 1899. By this time, Arsenal were re-named Woolwich Arsenal and the clubs met in the United League with the Gunners winning 2-1 at the Manor Ground in Plumstead while Spurs won the return match 3-2 at Northumberland Park.

Two matches were played within the same week in April 1900 in the Southern District Combination League with Spurs winning 4-2 at White Hart Lane which was followed by a 2-1 win to Arsenal at Plumstead in a game abandoned after 75 minutes due to "bad language". History doesn't provide the answer as to who was the guilty party! From 1901 to 1920, the clubs met in various minor competitions, friendlies and matches played during the First World War.

Tottenham Hotspur joined the Football League in season 1908-09 and won promotion to the First Division on their first attempt. The following season they played Arsenal in December 1909 and lost 0-1 at the Manor Ground in Plumstead, while the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane ended in a 1-1 draw with John Curtis scoring Spurs' first League goal against the Gunners.

The teams met for three more seasons before Arsenal's relegation at the end of the 1912-13 season with Spurs winning three matches, Arsenal winning two and one game drawn.

September 1913 proved to be a hugely important date in the history of both clubs as Arsenal controversially moved from south of the River Thames into the territory reserved for Tottenham Hotspur and Clapton (later Leyton) Orient, in clear violation of the rules and regulations governing such relocations as stipulated by the Football League. Despite bitter protests, Arsenal's move to Highbury (more correctly called Arsenal Stadium) was allowed.

White Hart Lane was requisitioned by the Army during WWI, so Spurs played many of their wartime matches at Highbury.

When League football resumed after the war in 1919, it was decided to once again expand the First Division from 20 teams to 22. The normal way of doing this had always been to add the top two clubs from the Second Division to those who were already in the First Division. However, there were complications arising from allegations of match-fixing from Liverpool and Manchester United during the final matches of the last season played before the League was suspended and it was felt that they would forfit their Top Flight status as a result.

From nowhere, Arsenal, who had finished sixth (later corrected to fifth) in the Second Division before the war were 'elected' to take Tottenham Hotspur's place in the First Division. Allegations of bribery persist to this day and Henry Norris (Arsenal's Chairman) was later given a lifetime ban from football from the Football League for underhand financial activities.

Spurs and Arsenal played their first Football League match after World War One in the First Division in January 1921 with Spurs winning 2-1 at White Hart Lane while Arsenal won the return match at Highbury 3-2. All 140 League games played to date have taken place in the Top Flight of English football.

Highbury was taken over by the Army during the Second World War and Spurs returned the favour by allowing Arsenal to play their wartime matches at White Hart Lane. Arsenal won the first FA Cup meeting between the two teams 3-0 in the 3rd Round in January 1949. The clubs have played five FA Cup matches to date with Spurs winning two and Arsenal winning three.

The first Football League Cup match took place in November 1968 with Arsenal winning the first leg of the Semi-Final 1-0 at Highbury and Spurs drawing 1-1 at White Hart Lane the following month. Of the 12 League Cup matches played so far, Spurs have won 3, Arsenal have won 6 and three games have been drawn.

Both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were founder members of the Premier League in season 1992-93 and both clubs are among the seven (Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa are the other five) who have been ever-present during the 20 seasons of the competition.

Arsenal went two goals ahead by halftime in the reverse fixture last season at the Emirates in November 2010 through Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh but Spurs came back strongly with goals from Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart (penalty) and Younes Kaboul to secure a 3-2 win.

The match at White Hart Lane in April 2011 was a six goal thriller with honours even. Theo Walcott and Rafael van der Vaart scored goals within the first 10 minutes before Samir Nasri put the Gunners 2-1 up after 12 minutes. Arsenal went further ahead with a Robin van Persie goal on 40 minutes but Tom Huddlestone made it 2-3 by halftime. Van der Vaart scored the only goal in the second half from the penalty spot.

The reverse fixture at White Hart Lane earlier this season in October was won by Spurs 2-1 with goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Kyle Walker with Aaron Ramsey scoring for Arsenal.

As far as Football League / Premier League matches go, two player have both scored nine goals for Spurs against Arsenal - Billy Minter and Bobby Smith.

Three Arsenal players have each scored eight goals against Spurs - Robert Pires, Emmanuel Adebayor and Alan Smith.

There have been three hat-tricks scored during North London Derbies - Terry Dyson for Spurs and Ted Drake & Alan Sunderland for Arsenal.

Jimmy Robertson is the only player to score for both Spurs & Arsenal in a North London Derby.

Arsenal's David O'Leary has played in the most North London Derbies (35) while both Gary Mabbutt & Steve Perryman played 31 games with Spurs.

During the 2011 summer transfer window, Spurs signed former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor on loan from Manchester City.

Overall, Arsenal have won 99 of the 248 matches played against Tottenham with Spurs winning 90 and 59 matches drawn.

Full History of Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal Matches 1887-2012

They Played for Arsenal & Spurs....

Emmanuel Adebayor

Clive Allen

Charlie Ambler

Bob Arber (Arsenal player, Spurs reserves manager)

David Bentley

David Black

Anton Blackwood

Jimmy Brain

Laurie Brown

Walter Bugg

Lycurgus Burrows

Sol Campbell

Herbert Chapman (Spurs player, Arsenal manager)

Damien Comolli (Director of Football at both clubs)

Freddie Cox

James Delvin

Wilf Dixon (Spurs assistant manager, Arsenal trainer)

Jack Eggett

Tom Fitchie

Theo Foley (Arsenal assistant manager, Spurs reserves manager)

William Gallas

George Graham (Arsenal player, Spurs manager)

Vic Groves

Tom Hatfield

Stewart Houston (Assistant manager at both clubs)

Joe Hulme (Arsenal player, Spurs manager)

George Hunt

David Jenkins

Pat Jennings

Bill Julian

Peter Kyle

Neil Lacy

Bill Lane (Spurs player, Arsenal scout)

Peter McWilliam (Spurs manager, Arsenal scout)

Tom Meade

Billy Minter

Terry Naylor

Terry Neill (Arsenal player, Spurs manager)

Jamie O'Hara

Tom O'Shea

George Payne

Ron Piper

Tom Pratt

Rohan Ricketts

Jimmy Robertson

Andrew Swan

Walter Thomas

Erik Thorstvedt

Steve Walford

Ernie Walley (Spurs player, Arsenal coach)

Charlie Williams

Willie Young

Arsenal Premier League Player's Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2011-12

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Player's Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2011-12

[Devlin 222]

Gays.

[Marky. 6,946]

Excellent stuff. Got Spurs supporting family so I like them and look out for their results.

I'd rep if I wasn't on my phone mate

[Alan LSOB 85]

Arsenal used bto be alover spurs, but this last

few seasons spurs are pleying better football

and the way they arsenal are playing at the

minute i can see spurs getting 3 points from this.

[King Jela 20,384]

I've always quite liked Spurs myself, hope they destroy Arsenal.

[THFC6061 4]

Arsenal used bto be alover spurs, but this last

few seasons spurs are pleying better football

and the way they arsenal are playing at the

minute i can see spurs getting 3 points from this.

The last 10 matches between the two clubs has resulted in 4 wins for Spurs, 4 draws and 2 wins for Arsenal.

For the first time in many years, Spurs will be going to Arsenal as the favourites.

[THFC6061 4]

Arsenal-Tottenham derby 'the most crucial' in Arsene Wenger's reign

On the face of it, there is no reason why Tottenham's trip to Arsenal on Sunday should carry more significance than previous north London derbies.

Two fierce local rivals, three keenly contested Premier League points and one much-coveted set of bragging rights - so far, so familiar.

But scratch beneath the surface and an entirely different picture emerges.

"This is the most important derby in Arsene Wenger's 16 years as Arsenal manager," former Gunners right-back Lee Dixon tells BBC Sport.

"It comes at a very poignant time in the club's history."

Out of contention for every domestic trophy and facing likely Champions League elimination, Arsenal are staring at a seventh consecutive trophy-less season.

Defeat by Tottenham, who have never finished above their neighbours during Wenger's tenure, would leave the Gunners 13 points behind third-placed Spurs in the Premier League with 12 games remaining.

Unless Arsenal then won a probable four-way scrap with Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool for fourth place, their 15-year run in the Champions League would be over.

"If they don't get Champions League football next season it's going to be a nightmare," says ex-Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit.

"To get back to where they were, Arsenal need to sign big players in the summer and you can't do that if you don't play Champions League."

Following devastating defeats by Sunderland and AC Milan in their last two matches, Arsenal will be desperate to reignite their season against Spurs.

It is a league fixture that Wenger lost only once in his first 14 years at the club, but all evidence suggests the tide is turning.

Arsenal have won just one of their last seven top-flight meetings and go into the game below Tottenham in the table for only the fourth time in Wenger's 32 derbies.

"Spurs are a better team than Arsenal," Petit admits, while Dixon adds: "There has definitely been a gradual shift of power over the last few seasons."

Football analyst and author Alex Fynn wrote a book in 2000 entitled The Great Divide, which sought to explain Arsenal's dominance over Tottenham.

"Certainly there is no great divide now," says Fynn. "If anything, it may be role reversal."

This has not gone down well with the crowd at Emirates Stadium, where rumblings of discontent have been audible for some time.

Tim Payton, spokesman for the Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST), describes it a "a culture shock, a wake-up call for Arsenal fans who have been used to enjoying St Totteringham's Day".

That is the name Arsenal followers jokingly give to the date each season when Spurs cannot mathematically finish above Arsenal.

Unfortunately for them, that holiday looks like it will not be celebrated in 2012 and many of those fans are questioning how it has come to this.

Wenger lifted seven trophies in his first nine years at Arsenal, but now looks set to endure the longest barren spell of any manager in the club's history.

"Wenger needed a challenge from his backroom staff and the board," Fynn argues. "This is the most significant problem he has failed to deal with.

"The other major clubs have arguably had better backroom staff and refreshed them on several occasions. Just look at Manchester United.

"Wenger has never had this and, as other clubs have moved on, Arsenal have stood still and maybe even gone backwards.

"Why has he not surrounded himself with men of quality? What on earth is [retired former Arsenal captain] Patrick Vieira doing at Manchester City?"

Fynn also blames the 2007 departure of chief executive David Dein, who remains Wenger's best friend, for Arsenal slipping behind their rivals in the transfer market.

This is one of many areas in which Tottenham have excelled since chairman Daniel Levy appointed Harry Redknapp as manager in 2008.

"Spurs were branded a team without ambition for almost a decade," Petit explains. "But in the last two years they have signed so many good players and big characters that this team seems far more competitive than Arsenal.

"All of a sudden the politics changed and they started to spend a lot of money. Big wages, bringing in many international players with big experience, big characters - mixing the likes of Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor with very good players already in the team like Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe.

"Now the quality is there and they have the mentality too. It will be very interesting to see how Arsenal react to this, especially at home. It's a massive test after what's happened during the last week."

Dixon adds: "Going into a north London derby, as fans you'll read lots of stuff. As players you put that all out of the way, you forget it, because it is ultimately about what happens on the day.

"The thing to pay more attention to is recent results and Arsenal's form is poor.

"That in itself is demoralising. But when I was at the club, if we ever had a bad series of results the next game you want to be a big one because it gets your mind focused on what's coming rather than feeling sorry for yourself.

"And there's no bigger one than the north London derby at this stage of the season with so much at stake. So roll your sleeves up and get stuck in."

The AST estimates that missing out on the Champions League could cost Arsenal £45m and that is why Payton thinks Sunday is "much more than a north London derby".

Victory would bring fresh hope but, for Arsenal and Wenger, defeat does not bear thinking about.

"That would be the third body shot in quick succession," says Fynn. "It may be the knockout blow."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17132737

[derek1872 548]

Spurs are a cracking team

[keithgersbear 3,225]

Up the Arsenal.

[THFC6061 4]

Mark Lawrenson's Prediction for Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (Sunday,1330 GMT)

There haven't been too many occasions in the last few years where you would have backed Tottenham to go to the Emirates Stadium and get something, but I think this is one of them.

It is going to be a tough test for Spurs, though. Arsenal have struggled in their last two away games, against AC Milan and Sunderland, but their home form is solid and you have to factor in how keen they will be to hold the bragging rights in north London.

I think the points will end up being shared. And, although I don't think they are going to win the league, for me they are definitely going to finish third, and above Arsenal.

That would be the first time that has happened since Arsène Wenger took charge of the Gunners but the reasons for it are simply that Spurs have got more quality in every area.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has put together a really good side, and it has got a bit of everything. They can play in so many different ways and they have a multitude of options going forward.

Defensively they are solid too, and part of that is due to the progress of people like Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Kyle Walker, who is starting to look like a real player.

In goal, Brad Friedel has made a difference too, When you watch him play, he organises his defence so well, and that is a massive help to them.

Heurelho Gomes was capable of making some excellent saves but he always had a mistake in him. The difference between being a good goalkeeper and a very good goalkeeper is about concentration.

Keepers for the top teams might not see the ball for 20 minutes, even to take a goal-kick but they need the ability to tune in and switch on. We saw Joe Hart do it for Manchester City late on against Aston Villa a fortnight ago.

What Hart did for me there is more of a sign he is a top keeper than if he was making a series of brilliant saves every few minutes - in the manner that people like Tim Krul and Wayne Hennessey sometimes do. It's a bit like golf - the really top players have got the mental edge.

Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Here are all 260 of Lawro's 2011-12 Premier League predictions and how the League Table would look like based on his forecasts...

Lawro's 2011-12 Predictions

[Skelf 1,153]

Fuck spurs and their Aberdeen pals that got a pasting!!

[EastEnclosureBear 2,926]

Mon the Arsenal.

[keithgersbear 3,225]

5-2 to The Arsenal.

[Guest]

Fuckin boom , Walcott is a striker not a winger all day long

[Clemdog 39,389]

Pumped good and proper

[King Jela 20,384]

Oft.

[papaguy51 912]

It probably shows how far Arsenal have fallen given their reaction to only being seven points behind Spurs.

[keithgersbear 3,225]

It probably shows how far Arsenal have fallen given their reaction to only being seven points behind Spurs.

Tottenham should be out of sight. It shows badly on tottenham if anything. Arsenal made their worst start to a season in over 50+ years. Arsenal to actually be 4th at the moment is amazing really.