Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are two of the most important football clubs in the history of English football. Until 2023, the two teams have faced each other 205 times, during which Arsenal have got the better of Tottenham on 84 occasions while Tottenham have won 64 times. The remaining matches ended in draws, but mind you, the draws weren’t any less entertaining either.
The emergence of this rivalry dates back over 100 years, when Arsenal entered Highbury, north London, which was Tottenham’s turf. This decision by Arsenal caused resentment among Tottenham fans and they were not ready to show a welcoming attitude towards the Gunners (Arsenal).
The origin of Tottenham Hotspur
A group of boys studying at the grammar school came up with the idea of establishing the Hotspur club in 1882. Shortly after, the name was changed to Tottenham Hotspur in order to avoid confusion with another club with a similar name called Hotspur FC . played matches with each other or informal matches with neighboring local clubs. The same year, Tottenham Hotspur played their first competitive match against St Albans. The match was part of the London Association Cup and also brought immediate success to Tottenham Hotspur who won the match 5-2.
Tottenham began to move up the ranks to become a professional club by hiring their first official manager, Frank Brettell, and also became a limited company in 1898. The team got their hands on the first major trophy in 1901, when they won the FA Cup. It was an important title win as Tottenham Hotspur were not considered a championship team at that time.
Until 2023, Tottenham Hotspur managed to win 26 titles, including 8 FA Cups and 2 UEFA Cups. One disappointing thing for the club and its fans is the absence of a Premier League trophy in his cabinet. It’s been 140 years since the club was formed, but they are yet to win their first Premier League. There were seasons like 2015/16 and 2016/17 where they almost won but ran out of gas. The Lilywhites are hoping to win the title this season under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou.
The origin of Arsenal football club
If you compare the origin of Arsenal with the origin of Tottenham, you will not find the privileges. Arsenal was founded by a group of working-class residents who worked shifts at the Arsenal munitions factory, Woolwich, in 1886. It was originally called Dial Square, after a sundial prominent located at the entrance to the Arsenal munitions factory.
The club played their first ever official match against Eastern Wanderers and achieved a convincing 6–0 victory. It was after this match at the Royal Oak pub that the team members decided on a new name for the club – Royal Arsenal. The new name also included apparent references to where they sat and where they worked.
Arsenal were promoted to the First Division of English professional football in 1919. This promotion was the result of the efforts of Henry Norris, who was Arsenal’s largest shareholder. Arsenal have never dropped down to the second division of English football since their promotion, reflecting their status as one of the toughest clubs in the English Premier League.
The roots of the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur rivalry
The rivalry dates back to the early 20th century, where two key events took place which formed the basis of an official rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham. Arsenal found themselves in serious trouble before 1913. The club was facing financial problems and even went into voluntary liquidation in 1910. The club’s senior management, particularly Henry Norris, who was then the majority shareholder of Arsenal knew it was time to make carefully considered decisions to save the club.
Norris began his fight to save the club from a disastrous situation by moving the stadium to Highbury, north London. The change of stadium was made in order to attract more spectators to watch the matches. This decision had to work because it was easier for spectators to attend matches in the new stadium thanks to the nearby metro station. Tottenham, other football clubs and residents of Islington have registered their protests and appealed to the league authorities against the new registration. All calls were downplayed by the league board, and the start of the First World War meant that football was not an important topic at the time.
It didn’t take long for Arsenal to return to the forefront of professional football. Shortly after the World War, the Premier League expanded and 2 teams were added to the Premier Division. It was the perfect opportunity for second division teams to make their case and join the top ranks of the English football championship. Henry Norris played a wild card and put forward the case for Arsenal entering the First Division because of the legacy they had formed. This was an unexpected proposition as Arsenal were in 5th place in the Second Division, and Henry Norris wanted to place Arsenal in the First Division purely on his belief. Because Arsenal’s performances on the pitch did not guarantee them a place in the first division,
Henry Norris continued to push his cause and his speech at the annual general meeting was so great that it gave him 10 key votes, which allowed Arsenal to enter the First Division. It is clear from Arsenal’s performances throughout the 20th century that the team was special and worthy of playing in the First Division, but the manner in which they entered and voted on was controversial to say the least. This was obviously not going to be taken kindly by Tottenham Hotspur.
The Rivalry Continues – The North London Derby
We are nearing the end of 2023 and have witnessed many Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur clashes. With both teams being a permanent fixture in the Premier League, fans can witness at least one match of high intensity and passion every year. The two sides meet each year in a North London derby to determine who has real power in North London. The level of competition can be judged from their last clash on September 24, 2023, where the two teams could not be separated with a score of 2-2. Supporters were in full force at the Emirates Stadium, and a similar attendance is expected at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 27, 2024. So make your plans early and buy your tickets before arrival. sold out tickets for Tottenham.
With Arsenal and Tottenham’s current form, who do you think will emerge victorious when both teams take the field to write another chapter of the infamous North London Derby. Who are you going to support? The question is addressed to neutrals because for supporters of both clubs, changing sides is the deepest betrayal.
