North London Derby
The fierce North London rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, one of the most watched derbies in the world.
The North London derby is the meeting of the association football clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, both of which are based in North London, England. Fans of both clubs consider the other to be their main rivals, and the derby is one of the most watched derbies in the world. 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.
Verified Timeline
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 was abandoned 15 minutes before it was due to end 'owing to darkness' with Spurs winning 2–1. The first completed match was in February 1888, which Arsenal won 6–2. The rivalry escalated in 1919 when Arsenal were elected to the First Division over Tottenham, infuriating Tottenham and their supporters. Notable matches include Arsenal winning the league at White Hart Lane in 1971, Tottenham beating Arsenal 5–0 at home in 1983, and Arsenal winning 5–0 away in 1978. The highest-scoring game is Arsenal's 5–4 win at White Hart Lane in November 2004. The fixture's top scorer is Harry Kane with fourteen goals.
In Their Own Story
The floodlights hummed over the Campus PSG, but tonight the air felt heavy with a phantom memory of a city far away. An old supporter leaned forward, hearing not the familiar thunder of 'Ici c'est Paris,' but a distant echo of red and white clashing against navy blue in North London. The true saga here involves the 2014 match where Laura Georges scored a solitary goal to hand Lyon their first league defeat at home since March 2010, ending an unbeaten streak spanning 87 matches. It was Fatmire Alushi who later scored the only goal in the Champions League last 16 against Lyon at Gerland. These are the moments that define us: a 5–0 cup final victory over Montpellier in 2010, or the dramatic penalty shoot-out loss to Lyon in the 2017 European final where Katarzyna Kiedrzynek missed while Sarah Bouhaddi converted.
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.
Did You Know?
- The first North London derby was held outside the United Kingdom on 31 July 2025 at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, won by Tottenham.
- Arsenal's biggest win over Spurs was 6–0 away at White Hart Lane in 1935.
- Tottenham beat Arsenal 3–1 at the semi-final of the 1990–91 FA Cup, which they went on to win.
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