ARSENAL TOTTENHAM PREMIER LEAGUE

THE NORTH LONDON DERBY

Arsenal vs Tottenham — 2025-26

London's fiercest rivalry. Two clubs separated by 4 miles and a century of bitter history. Every meeting in the Premier League carries title implications, European qualification stakes, or simply the pride of north London bragging rights.

200+

Total Meetings

~80

Arsenal Wins

~60

Spurs Wins

~60

Draws

2025-26 Season Meetings

Premier League

The two PL fixtures this season carry enormous weight with both clubs locked in the top-four battle and, for Arsenal, a sustained title challenge. Every derby point is magnified when the margin between Champions League and Europa League football can be settled on head-to-head records.

Check the Premier League 2025-26 table for current standings.

What's at Stake in 2025-26

◆ Arsenal targeting a Premier League title — every dropped point costs
◆ Spurs fighting to reclaim top-four status and UCL football
◆ North London bragging rights — permanent for the full season
◆ Manager prestige — Arteta vs Spurs' boss, the tactical subplot

Arsenal's Key Men

Bukayo Saka Arsenal's talisman. Direct, dangerous, impossible to fully nullify — Spurs have no clear answer for him at full pace down the right.
Gabriel Martinelli Explosive left-sided threat. His directness and work rate without the ball make him a constant headache for Spurs' right side.
Kai Havertz The false nine who keeps evolving. His aerial ability, link play and late runs into the box give Arsenal a different dimension at set pieces.
William Saliba Best centre-back in England. His composure and reading of the game anchors the Arsenal defensive structure in high-pressure derbies.
David Raya Elite shot-stopper and sweeper keeper. Key in keeping clean sheets when Spurs create their inevitable chances on the counter.

Tottenham's Key Men

Heung-min Son Club captain and serial derby performer. His movement between the lines and clinical left foot remain the greatest single threat Spurs carry.
Dejan Kulusevski The Swede's dribbling, directness and ability to carry the ball through congested midfields makes him Spurs' most dangerous ball-carrier.
James Maddison Creative heartbeat. When Maddison is on form, Spurs look like a completely different side — his set-piece delivery is a constant danger.
Micky van de Ven Lightning-fast left-sided CB with the pace to recover. His injury record is the main concern for Spurs in derby preparations.
Guglielmo Vicario The Italian goalkeeper who has cemented himself as one of the Premier League's best shot-stoppers since arriving from Empoli.

Classic Derby Moments

October 2008

The 4-4 Thriller

Spurs came back from 4-2 down in the final ten minutes to draw 4-4 at White Hart Lane. One of the most dramatic derbies ever played. Lennon, Bent and Modric for Spurs; Fabregas, Nasri and van Persie for Arsenal.

November 2012

Arsenal 5-2 Spurs

Theo Walcott tormented Spurs all afternoon as Arsenal put five past them at the Emirates. A humiliation for Spurs that is still cited whenever the rivalry flares up. Van Persie bagged two in a dominant display.

May 2022

Spurs 3-0 Arsenal

A top-four decider that Spurs won emphatically. Son and Kane were unstoppable, and the result effectively secured Champions League football for Tottenham over their rivals. The wound still lingers for Arsenal fans.

The Rivalry — A History

Why Arsenal Lead the All-Time Record

Arsenal's period of dominance under Arsène Wenger (1996-2018) saw them win the majority of derbies during the Premier League era. The Invincibles season (2003-04) included a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane. Seven FA Cup wins in this period also outstripped their rivals.

Spurs' Greatest Derby Periods

Spurs' best recent stretch came during the Harry Kane era (2016-2022), where a genuine title challenger emerged. Their 2018-19 UCL run and the 3-0 win in May 2022 represent the peak of modern Spurs in this fixture. The pre-Arsenal-to-Highbury era was also heavily favoured toward Spurs.