please log in to view this image Arsenal visit White Hart Lane to play Tottenham Hotspur in the 7th round of 2011-12 Premier League matches on Sunday 2nd October 2011 (6th match for Spurs). This will be the 240th time the two teams have met. Arsenal v Spurs 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. 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 finally played their first Football League match 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. 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 agianst 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, Spurs have won 86 of the 239 matches played against Arsenal with the Gunners winning 96 and 57 matches drawn. please log in to view this image Full History of Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur Matches 1887-2011 please log in to view this image They Played for Spurs & Arsenal.... 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 please log in to view this image 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
Good read Reference to Clive Allen is questionable obviously - though Arsenal did get one of Englands finest left backs of all time and his bookies got paid....
Clive Allen played for Arsenal in several pre-season matches but by the time the season proper had started, he had been traded to Crystal Palace for Kenny Sansom.
Good article Let's hope we can keep it civil..... It's going to be a good game, Spurs will go for it. They've been playing well last couple of games and have been scoring goals. Arsenal look to be getting it together after a terrible start, 3 pts and a clean sheet last time around will have boosted their confidence. I think it could be a 2-1 to either side But I'm going for a 1-1 draw.
Thanks! I also think it will be a very tight match as both clubs are very much improved on their early season form. But I've got the feeling that Adebayor may well prove to be the difference and secure all three points for Spurs.
The only reason this article has been posted is so spurs fans can highlight the Norris thing again. Yawn....... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
First time in many years that I have felt a touch aprehensive before a NLD. Not because the Spuds have improved, but because we have slipped a little, although clearly on the road to recovery. I predict a draw.
Yes. Erik the Viking had unsuccessful trials with Queens Park Rangers and Spurs in 1984. Just before he signed with Borussia Moenchengladbach, he had an extended spell with Arsenal but didn't play in any competitive matches. Spurs signed him from IFK Göteborg in 1989.
Well the last nine games between the clubs has produced 3 wins for Spurs, 4 draws and just 2 wins for Arsenal.
Totting up results from the last decade is just as relevant as those in the last 9 games. How about the last 30 league games if it makes you happy (also fairly irrelevant).
I included the complete list of every game played between Arsenal and Spurs in the original post of this thread. You are, of course, free to take whatever time period suits you best... Full History of Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur Matches 1887-2011
Would take a draw on this one. Any sensible Arsenal fan would.. given our current situation, a win is desired but not forecasted.
I didn't know that many Arsenal players had links to Spurs and vice versa !! Very Surprising. Your lot can't forget the whole Woolwich Arsenal and alleged bribery business can you, my goodness, almost 100 years ago and you are still bitter about it. Apart from that, a very good read !!
