Rivalries are part of what makes football special, and the North London derby is one of the most talked-about fixtures in the English game and across the wider football world.
Played between two of the biggest clubs in North London — Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur — this meeting has never felt like just another date in the calendar.
The contest has been played for well over a century, spanning different eras, competitions and title races. Some meetings have defined entire seasons, while others have lived long in the memory because of a late goal, controversy or a moment of individual brilliance.
For supporters of either club, this fixture is about pride as much as points. It is about finishing above your neighbour, having the final word at work or in the pub.
In this article, we look back at how the rivalry began and why it still matters so much today.
History and origin of the North London derby
Before tracing the roots of the derby itself, it helps to understand the early beginnings of the two clubs at its heart, as their foundations shaped that first meeting.
Tottenham Hotspur was founded in 1882 by a group of schoolboys connected to the local Hotspur Cricket Club. They initially went by the name Hotspur FC, a nod to the medieval figure Sir Henry “Harry” Hotspur, before adopting the name Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, Arsenal was formed by munitions workers at the Royal Arsenal factory in Woolwich under the name Dial Square, before later becoming Royal Arsenal.
Pre-rivalry meetings between Arsenal and Tottenham
First-ever game and friendly encounters
It was under the names Tottenham Hotspur and Royal Arsenal — then based in Plumstead — that the sides first met on November 19, 1887, at Tottenham Marshes. The match finished 2–1 in favour of Spurs, although it was abandoned with 15 minutes remaining due to fading light.
The teams met again the following February in Plumstead. That contest was completed, but Tottenham were only able to field nine players and were beaten 6–2.
Early competitive meetings and the 1898 chaos
The first competitive clash came on November 2, 1896, when Woolwich Arsenal hosted Spurs in the now-defunct United League at Manor Ground, and the home side won 2–1.
Two years later, the fixture attracted a record crowd of around 15,000 at Northumberland Park. The occasion descended into chaos when spectators climbed onto the roof of a refreshment stand, causing it to collapse and leaving several people injured.
The incident prompted Spurs to seek a new home nearby, moving to what would later become known as White Hart Lane.
First-ever Football League meeting
The first Football League encounter between Arsenal and Tottenham took place in the First Division on December 4, 1909, at Manor Ground, where the Gunners secured a 1–0 victory thanks to a goal from Walter Lawrence.
How the North London rivalry truly began
Despite those early meetings, there was little sense of rivalry at first. Arsenal were a South East London club, while Spurs were based in North London, and the fixture was viewed as just another match.
That changed in 1913 when the Gunners moved from Manor Ground to Highbury Stadium, just four miles from White Hart Lane. The relocation brought the clubs into close proximity and sparked tensions, with Spurs feeling their territory had been encroached upon.
The first meeting as genuine North London neighbours came in a War Relief Fund friendly on August 22, 1914, at White Hart Lane, where Arsenal won 5–1. The sides continued to face each other during the First World War in the London Combination, though the fixture had yet to carry the edge it would later develop.
Tensions truly escalated in 1919 when the First Division was expanded from 20 to 22 clubs following the war. Chelsea, who had finished 19th before football was suspended, were granted a reprieve from relegation, leaving one remaining place to be decided by vote.
Tottenham, Arsenal and several other clubs put themselves forward for election despite finishing outside the automatic promotion spots. Arsenal eventually secured the majority backing and were elected to the First Division — a decision that sparked fury among Spurs supporters, who believed the process had favoured their rivals.
Tottenham responded in the best possible manner, winning the 1919–20 Second Division title to regain their top-flight status. From that point on, the derby became a regular feature of English football, beginning with a 2–1 Tottenham victory at White Hart Lane on January 15, 1921 — the first fully competitive league meeting between the clubs as North London rivals.
Head-to-head record between Arsenal and Tottenham
As of February 19, 2026, Arsenal and Tottenham have faced each other 212 times, including their early fixtures. The Gunners lead the overall record with 90 victories, while Spurs have recorded 67 wins, with 55 draws between the sides.
One of the most recent meetings came in November 2025, when Arsenal secured a 4–1 victory over their North London rivals at the Emirates Stadium, courtesy of a historic hat-trick from Eberechi Eze, who became the first player to score a treble in this fixture in almost 50 years.
Key matches and iconic North London derby fixtures
There have been countless iconic games in this rivalry, including title deciders, record-breaking clashes, heavy defeats and encounters laced with controversy.
Tottenham 0–1 Arsenal (May 3, 1971)
Few scenarios are more mind-bending than relying on victory at your fiercest rival’s ground to win the league, and Arsenal found themselves in exactly that position on the final day of the 1970–71 season, needing a win or a goalless draw at White Hart Lane to beat Leeds United to the First Division title.
The Gunners ultimately delivered in dramatic fashion, with Ray Kennedy rising highest to head home the winner with just minutes remaining, sealing a 1–0 victory and clinching the title on enemy territory, a feat the Arsenal faithfuls still chant about to this day.
Tottenham 3–1 Arsenal (April 14, 1991)
Spurs have had their share of bragging rights too, with the FA Cup semi-final victory on April 14, 1991, standing as arguably Tottenham’s most famous win in this fixture.
Known among supporters as “St Hotspur Day”, Spurs secured a 3–1 triumph, with a stunning 30-yard free-kick from Paul Gascoigne setting the tone before Gary Lineker struck twice. Tottenham went on to lift the FA Cup that season.
Tottenham 2–2 Arsenal (April 25, 2004)
For a second time, Arsenal clinched the league title at White Hart Lane. During the famed ‘Invincibles’ campaign of 2003–04, the Gunners needed only a draw to secure the Premier League crown, and a 2–2 result was enough to get the job done.
Tottenham 4–5 Arsenal (November 13, 2004)
The highest-scoring meeting between the sides came in this nine-goal Premier League thriller. Seven goals were scored after the interval in a contest that remains one of the most chaotic and entertaining derbies in English football history.
Tottenham 2–0 Arsenal (April 30, 2017)
This victory brought an end to a 22-year spell of St Totteringham’s Day — the unofficial celebration marking the moment it became mathematically impossible for Spurs to finish above Arsenal.
Goals from Harry Kane and Dele Alli secured the win, as Mauricio Pochettino guided Tottenham to finish above Arsenal for the first time since 1995.
Notable records in the North London derby
Highest-scoring fixture
The nine-goal thriller in November 2004 remains the highest-scoring North London derby. A notable mention also goes to the dramatic 4–4 draw on October 29, 2008, when Spurs fought back late on to snatch a point at the Emirates Stadium.
Biggest winning margin
The heaviest victory in the fixture came on March 6, 1935, when Arsenal thrashed Spurs 6–0 at White Hart Lane. The Gunners also recorded a 5–0 win on December 23, 1978.
Tottenham have registered 5–0 victories of their own, first on December 25, 1911, and again on April 4, 1983.
Highest goalscorers
Harry Kane leads the scoring charts in this fixture with 14 goals. The England striker is followed by Bobby Smith and Emmanuel Adebayor, who both scored 10. Billy Minter netted nine, while Alan Sunderland and Robert Pires each scored eight.
Most appearances
David O’Leary holds the record for most appearances in the North London derby, featuring 35 times for Arsenal. For Spurs, Gary Mabbutt and Steve Perryman share the record with 31 appearances each.
Hat-tricks
Only four players have scored a hat-trick in a first-class North London derby. Terry Dyson remains the only Spurs player to achieve the feat, doing so on August 26, 1961.
For Arsenal, the players to register trebles are Ted Drake (October 20, 1934), Alan Sunderland (December 23, 1978) and Eberechi Eze (November 23, 2025).