North London Derby

Lore & Background

The first meeting between the two teams was a friendly on 19 November 1887, when Arsenal were located in Plumstead and known as Royal Arsenal. The match, played at Spurs' ground at Tottenham Marshes, was abandoned 15 minutes before it was due to end 'owing to darkness' with Spurs winning 2–1. The first completed match was held the following February in Plumstead; Tottenham could only field nine players, and were beaten 6–2. The rivalry escalated in 1919 when, after World War I, Arsenal were elected to the First Division ahead of Tottenham, a decision that infuriated Tottenham and their supporters. Notable matches include Arsenal winning the league at White Hart Lane in 1971 and their invincible campaign in 2004, Tottenham beating Arsenal 5–0 at home in 1983 and Arsenal winning by the same score away in 1978, and Tottenham beating Arsenal 3–1 at the semi-final of the 1990–91 FA Cup, which they went on to win. The highest-scoring game is the 5–4 win by Arsenal at White Hart Lane in November 2004.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the stadium is thick with anticipation, a palpable tension that seems to vibrate through the concrete stands. On one side, the red and white sea chants of Arsenal rise like a tide; on the other, the claret and blue roar of Spurs cuts through the noise. As the teams emerge from the tunnel, the silence for a split second is heavier than any cheer. The referee blows the whistle, and the first tackle sends a shockwave through the crowd. It is more than a match; it is an old feud renewed, where every pass and every save is weighed against a century of history.

Reader's Guide

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. 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. The fixture's top scorer is Harry Kane with fourteen goals, having overtaken Bobby Smith and Emmanuel Adebayor, who have ten goals each.

Did You Know?

• The first meeting between the two teams was a friendly on 19 November 1887, abandoned due to darkness with Spurs leading 2–1.
• The rivalry began in 1913 when Arsenal moved from Woolwich to Highbury, just four miles from Tottenham's White Hart Lane.
• Arsenal's biggest win over Tottenham is 6–0 away at White Hart Lane in 1935.
• The highest-scoring North London derby is Arsenal's 5–4 win at White Hart Lane in November 2004.
• Harry Kane is the all-time top scorer in the derby with 14 goals.