North London Derby

Lore & Background

Although the two teams first played each other in 1887, the rivalry did not begin until 1913 when Arsenal moved their ground to North London from Woolwich, south of the River Thames. The rivalry escalated in 1919 when Arsenal were elected to the First Division ahead of Tottenham, a decision that infuriated Tottenham and their supporters. The first fully competitive derby match after Arsenal's 1913 move was a First Division match that finished 2–1 to Tottenham on 15 January 1921 at White Hart Lane.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights hum over a packed English stadium, distinct from the warmth of Florence. Fans clad in red or white chant under grey skies, far removed from the Viola's purple passion. It is a reminder that football history spans continents, yet this specific battle belongs to London soil, not Tuscan grass.

Reader's Guide

As of 22 February 2026, 199 games have been played between the two teams since their first game in the Football League in 1909, with 86 wins for Arsenal, 62 wins for Tottenham and 52 games drawn. When games played before both joined the Football League are included, 213 games have been played, with Arsenal winning 91, Tottenham 68, and 55 drawn. Arsenal play their home games at the Emirates Stadium in Islington, while Tottenham Hotspur are based at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the neighbouring borough of Haringey. The two stadiums are 4 miles (6.4 km) apart.

Did You Know?

• The highest-scoring game in the North London derby is the 5–4 win by Arsenal at White Hart Lane in November 2004.
• The fixture's top scorer is Harry Kane with fourteen goals, having overtaken Bobby Smith and Emmanuel Adebayor, who have ten goals each.
• Arsenal's biggest ever win over Spurs was a 6–0 rout away at White Hart Lane in 1935.
• The first North London derby held outside the United Kingdom took place at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on 31 July 2025, won by Tottenham.