North London Derby

The North London Derby is one of English football's most heated local rivalries. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are separated by only a few miles of the same city, and their supporters live and work side by side, which gives the fixture a sharp, personal edge that lasts all year round.

Arsenal are one of England's most decorated clubs. For long stretches of their history they have been a fixture near the top of the English game, known for a self-image built on consistency and trophies. Their modern home is a large stadium in north London, and they carry the expectations of a club used to competing for the biggest honours.

Tottenham Hotspur are the older of the two clubs in north London and hold tightly to that sense of being the area's original team. Spurs have a reputation for attacking, entertaining football and a passionate support that has followed the club through both bright and difficult periods. Their move into a striking new stadium marked a clear statement of ambition.

The rivalry runs deep partly because of history. Arsenal moved across London into Tottenham's part of the city in the early twentieth century, and many Spurs supporters never accepted the newcomers as neighbours. Decades of close-quarters competition and fights for London bragging rights have hardened the feeling on both sides.

Today the derby is a Premier League occasion that draws attention well beyond London. League position, places in Europe and the simple matter of local pride all ride on the result. Whatever form either club is in, the fixture tends to produce drama, and a win here can lift a season as much as any other.