From the vault: Our greatest trips to Tottenham
Not much stirs the soul more for Gooners than a game against Tottenham Hotspur, with the north London derbies circled on calendars as soon as the fixtures are announced.
When it comes to trips to N17, victories at the home of our arch-rivals taste sweeter than most, and we have had some memorable ones down the years that have fallen into Arsenal folklore for the joy they have brought.
Here are six of the best across the past five decades:
March 4, 1987
Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal
This League Cup semi-final replay was one of four 2-1 wins at White Hart Lane in 1987. Three days earlier we had overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to register a 2-2 aggregate scoreline, spurred on by a presumptuous half-time tannoy message detailing how Tottenham fans could secure their tickets to the final.
When the teams did battle again, Clive Allen put the hosts in front on 62 minutes but substitute Ian Allison managed to squeeze the ball in at the near post to equalise with eight remaining. Then in the last minute, David Rocastle prodded us in front to put us ahead in the tie for the first time, and set us on our way to securing the trophy against Liverpool at Wembley.
May 5, 1999
Tottenham 1-3 Arsenal
As the 1998/99 campaign entered its final straight, we were neck and neck with Manchester United at the top of the table. Spurs were desperate to prevent us from retaining our Premier League crown, but we overpowered them to move into pole position with two games left.
We were imperious for the opening 40 minutes and Dennis Bergkamp created goals for Emmanuel Petit and Nicolas Anelka, before Darren Anderton slipped a free-kick under David Seaman to set up a tense second period. However, Nwankwo Kanu bamboozled Luke Young to score an incredible individual goal with five minutes to go to secure three vital points, and the bragging rights.
April 25, 2004
Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal
We were once again in title contention going into this game, with one point all that was necessary to repeat our 1971 success and win the league at White Hart Lane. Patrick Vieira slid us in front before his compatriot Robert Pires doubled the lead to all-but ensure our name was on the trophy.
However Spurs fought back and after Jamie Redknapp equalised, a controversial late penalty was handed to the hosts which Robbie Keane dispatched, but despite two points slipping away, the one we claimed was enough to seal the championship, spark wild celebrations on and off the pitch and put us four games away from an Invincibles campaign.
November 13, 2004
Tottenham 4-5 Arsenal
Later that year saw the goals flow in a Premier League classic, but we ensured that Martin Jol’s first game as Tottenham boss ended in defeat. Noureddine Naybet volleyed the hosts ahead, but even after Thierry Henry made it 1-1 just before half-time, no-one could anticipate just how manic things would get after the restart.
Lauren converted a penalty to put us in front before Vieira bulldozed his way through the defence to also score, and while Jermain Defoe powered one into the top corner the two-goal cushion was restored by Freddie Ljungberg. Ledley King headed in before Pires got his customary goal against Spurs, which proved crucial as Freddie Kanoute netted the ninth of an extraordinary game.
January 23, 2023
Tottenham 0-2 Arsenal
We registered our first win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League. We were given a helping hand just 14 minutes in when Hugo Lloris fumbled a Bukayo Saka cross and pushed the ball into his own net, and we nearly added a glorious second when Thomas Partey smashed a rocket of a shot against the crossbar.
But 36 minutes into the game, we did double our lead when Martin Odegaard took aim from 25 yards and found the bottom corner of Lloris’ net to put us in firm control. At the other end, some fine saves from Aaron Ramsdale in both halves kept Spurs at bay and saw us claim a first league north London derby away win since 2014.
April 28, 2024
Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal
On a day where we had to win to keep our title hopes alive, a sensational opening 45 minutes provided the platform for the three points, as we led by three going into the interval. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s own goal set us on our way before Saka and Kai Havertz added their names to the scoresheet and put Mikel Arteta on the brink of his 100th Premier League win as our boss.
However Spurs mounted a comeback and Cristian Romero pulled one back before a penalty from Heung-min Son five minutes from time made it a grandstand finish, but it couldn’t prevent us from recording back-to-back wins at the home of our biggest rivals for the first time since 1988.
