Tottenham Hotspur return to enemy ground at the Emirates on Sunday against fierce rivals Arsenal.
The North London Derby has produced some incredible football over the past few years, but unfortunately for Spurs, they have only come away with four wins out of the last six. However, last time out in the Premier League the White Hart Lane residents won 2-1, with a brace from Harry Kane.
After Kane’s performance against South Coast side Bournemouth and scoring against a struggling Aston Villa, Mauricio Pochettino and his side will be boosted by their prolific striker.
Arsenal are also in fine form after beating Swansea in Wales 3-0. The Gunners currently lie second in the Premier League table and took on Bayern Munich on Wednesday in Germany. Arsene Wenger’s side beat Bayern at home 2-0, Bayern’s first major loss in 12 games. However, on the return journey, the Bavarians brushed aside their English opposition in a 5-1 win that equals Arsenal’s worst ever Champions League defeat. Will this knock Arsenal’s confidence?
Much like big European clashes, derby games are always depicted as the most exciting and looked forward to fixtures. After the hotly anticipated Manchester Derby recently ended 0-0 in a rather dreary encounter, is the era of truly great derby matches over?
Liverpool and Everton – another awaited and worshipped clash – also ended in a draw in early October with a scoreline of 1-1.
The recent Tyne Wear Derby produced three goals, all coming from Sunderland. Newcastle have lost the last six times and are winless in derbies since 2011. That 3-0 victory has been the most prolific derby result in at least this last year.
It is almost as if the pressure of the game the players are performing at is getting to them. The two times Tottenham and Arsenal have faced each other in 2015, there has been three goals altogether, with Arsenal securing the win last time out in the League Cup. Perhaps the North London Derby is now a football fan’s only chance of seeing goals in such a prestigious competition of neighbours.
However, the score does not always equate to entertaining football, but the fans are there to see goals and games are usually judged on the outcome. When was the last great Premier League derby?
Only a couple of weeks ago, Chelsea were defeated by the surprising West Ham. The Hammers are loving life in the top six, even enjoying a spell in the top four. Deepening Chelsea’s and manager Jose Mourinho’s woes, this match ended 2-1 after an entertaining contest. But still, is this pleasurable and good enough to be considered a great London Derby?
If one thinks back to 2012, the two North London Derbies that season ended in 5-2 losses for Spurs. Both in the Premier League, the two away games were embarrassments, but when Arsenal returned to White Hart Lane in the same season, the hosts won 2-1 – their last win in the string of derbies.
One of the best matches in the history of the Premier League was a North London Derby – a 4-4 thriller that took place at the Emirates in October 2008. Goals came from David Bentley, Darren Bent, Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon. For Arsenal, Emmanuel Adebayor, William Gallas, Robin van Persie and Mikael Silvestre put the ball in the back of the net.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UASYr7lRIZo
And before that night, there was the League Cup semi final, in which Tottenham won 5-1 against Arsenal.
It is sad that you have to go back so many years in order to find consistently memorable scorelines in derby games, but the North London version has produced some outstanding games over the past few years, whether it be in the EPL or the League Cup.
But since 2013, the games have become a little tighter. Maybe this is down to Tottenham’s revival, with consistent challenges for top four places. It is no longer the upsets from the underdog when Spurs defeat the Gunners.
[interaction id=”563ac1286b4ac4d573fb4f2c”]
Arsenal have become a team that is associated with coming oh-so-close and not quite reaching the promised land. Tottenham have a similar vibe; smashing the top four, but then losing star man Gareth Bale. Spurs have not played Champions League football since their last top four push in 2011.
With Tottenham and Arsenal in such fine fettle, the derby will hopefully produce some beautiful football that we associate with the game and put all the last few derbies in the league to absolute shame.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
