please log in to view this image Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in the 12th round of 2012-13 Premier League matches on Saturday 17th November 2012 (KO 12:45). Arsenal come into the North London Derby in 8th place on 16 points, while Spurs are in 7th place on 17 points. This will be the 250th 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 150 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 21 seasons of the competition. Arsenal went two goals ahead by halftime in the 2010-11 fixture at the Emirates in November 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 fixture at White Hart Lane last 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. Arsenal won their home match in February 2012 5-2. Louis Saha had put Spurs ahead after 4 minutes and an Emmanuel Adebayor penalty put Tottenham further ahead after 34 minutes. But Arsenal pulled two goals back before half-time through Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie. Tomas Rosicky put Arsenal in front just after the break and the rout was completed with a brace from Theo Walcott. As far as Football League / Premier League matches go, three 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 & Emmanuel Adebayor are the only two players 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 2012 summer transfer window, Spurs signed former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City after having spent a season on loan. Overall, Spurs have won 90 of the 249 matches played against Arsenal with the Gunners winning 100 and 59 matches drawn. please log in to view this image Full History of Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur Matches 1887-2012 please log in to view this image 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, manager with both clubs) 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, manager with both clubs) 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 2012-13 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Player's Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2012-13 please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Cheers, THFC6061. Not looking forward to this one. Who I'd pick: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Vertonghen; Lennon, Sandro, Carroll, Bale; Defoe, Adebayor. Who will start: Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Vertonghe; Sandro, Huddlestone; Lennon, Dempsey, Bale; Adebayor.
we've had a very good record recently since Jan 2008: Carling cup semi (away) 1-1 draw carling Cup semi (home) 5-1 win prem 08/09 (away) 4-4 draw prem 08/09 (home) 0-0 draw prem 09/10 (away) 3-0 lost prem 09/10 (home) 2-1 win carling cup tie sept 10 (home) 4-1 lost AET league 10/11 (away) 3-2 win league 10/11 (home) 3-3 draw league 11/12 (home) 2-1 win league 11/12 (away) 5-2 lost that's 3 league wins 2 lost and 3 draws for us and 1 cup win, 1 draw and 1 loss. Arsenal have surrendered a 2 goal lead on 3 occassions (the 3 all; 4 all and the 3 -2 win) and we have surrendered a 2 goal lead once. The basic jist is it ain't gonna be over til the fat lady is singing but I ain't filled with any optimism that we'll be celebrating. 2-1 goons
Like PNP, I'm not looking forward to this one. We could do with a couple of our injured players back. There's a chance for dembele being fit, I read somewhere that BAE could be fit as well. AVB needs to focus on what we do best, use our pace on the wings and run the oppo all over the place. He should forget the high line defending, with Gallas it will never work as he's far too slow. I'd love to see this line up next week Lloris Walker, Dawson, verts, BAE Lennon, Sandro, dembele/Carroll, Bale Ade JD. With Friedel, caulker, naughton, Dempsey,sigi, Falque, Carroll/thud on the bench. However, expect AVB to go with Friedel Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Verts Sandro, thud Lennon, Dempsey, Bale JD.
Cheers for the thread 6061. Not looking forward to this either, expecting another defeat and more dumb selections and tactics by AVB.
Lioris Walker Caulker Gallas Naughton Lennon Sandro Vert Bale Ade Defoe Ade is intelligent enough to link play. I miss VDV every match. Brad isn't alert enough to be a nuisance in his own 6 yard because. Keeps on bothering me but I feel that he should have rushed out at Dzeko as Dzeko watched the ball as it lobbed towards him...Brad should have been in at him and that would have put Dzeko off. Sick of Hudd and Dempsey playing in slow motion. Vert can battle and run from the middle so the advancing DM out of him and Sandro,leaving Sandro to do what he does best. Bale was quiet today...not running like a young man should be. I also think he misses his understanding with BAE. Bale needs to start twisting them full backs again. AVB is the man for me but he needs to start being a bit more positive and not trying to shut up shop at the first given opportunity. This is not our strength. We do not own a bus. If we do then we certainly don't have a driver. 442 for me becoming a 451 when needed.
If he persists with Gallas & Hudd in the face of all the recent evidence, then I give up. AVB is just too pig-headed for his, or Spurs' benefit.
Bit harsh on Tommy. His delivery from free kicks alone is worth his place. Still not a better passer in our team and getting fitter all the time.
I'm up for this game. Focus on the goons and their recent poor performances. They're there for the taking. We'll win using the method "we'll score one more than you" - simple as that. 3-2 to us.
cheers again 6061 A draw for me. both sides will not want to lose, based on recent form. arsenal will not want to lose, as the gap from the top could potentially open up to 14 points should united win, and if everton and the like pick up another 3 points, they'll be 7 points behind 4th. from our point of view, we'll not want to lose either or we'll face being 6 points behind 4th. I can see us playing a 4231 again as we're away, but with a bit more intensity due to the occasion, and we'll manage to secure a draw because of this. I'd take a draw right now.
I don't think that alone warrants a start SD. Jenas delivered some good balls aswell from free kicks etc. Was never enough for him. Without the ball he is lacklustre at best.
apparently Walker has pulled out of the England game and is a doubt for the weekend. Hamstring strain apparently. another to add to the list...
Well this is going to be a complete waste of time. Referee: Howard Webb. 4th Official: Chris Foy. and .
We must not get beaten again and we must play better. If Dembele's back it will make things easier, although it would also make things a whole lot worse if we lost and were **** again. What's Benny doing? Is he due back any time soon? If he's out I'd go for Lloris; Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Naughton; Sandro, Dembele; Lennon, Dempsey, Bale; Ade.
I don't think recent form means much, period, and especially in a derby. Besides, if looking like crap is the question, we at least have looked good in the very recent past, which is more than can be said for Arsenal. I agree with PNP's "what I want to see" and "what I'll get" lists overall. I think AVB will make a change or two in the 4-2-3-1, though. I'm certainly hoping Dembele coming back is one of them.
I do not think both teams have looked good since that two week international break. Before that we picked up some good results, our win at Upton Park was a good result considering how they are playing at the moment. Think we have three league wins between us in this period. Both teams come into this game in rubbish form.
It's so hard to predict the NLD as form largely goes out of the window. Last season Spurs were odds on to beat us at Emirates and after half an hour it looked like it was going to happen, then all of a sudden we found our stride and banged five past you The last few NLDs have been pretty high scoring affairs too and both of our defences look like they are leaking goals. I think both teams will be looking for the win so I'd expect some goals from both sides. Having said that it will probably be a boring O-O draw now
