Arsenal’s upcoming North London derby trip to face Tottenham Hotspur is a significant one given the impact it could have on the Premier League title race.
Mikel Arteta’s side will need to win to give themselves the best chance of winning the Premier League title ahead of Manchester City, who currently have the advantage in terms of points.
Martin Keown has already claimed that this upcoming derby could be one of the best ever, given that Arsenal are going for the title, and Spurs are aiming for a top-four spot themselves.
This rivalry is one which normally favours the home side, and both teams have poor away records at the other’s stadium. However, Arsenal did secure two titles at the old White Hart Lane, but even the best Arsenal teams struggled to pick up three points in the hostile atmosphere across North London.
Arsenal could win back-to-back away North London derbies for the first time in 36 years
Arsenal recorded an impressive 2-0 victory away at Spurs last season, with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard providing the goals in a dominant win which saw Arsenal retain their place at the top of the Premier League table.
This was the first time Arsenal had won away at Spurs since 2013-14, when Tomas Rosicky scored a screamer in the first minute of the game, and Arsene Wenger’s side defended for their lives to secure a satisfying 1-0 victory.
Whenever Arsenal did win away at Spurs, they would almost always fail to follow it up the next season. Arsenal have not recorded back-to-back victories at Spurs since 1988, but given that Arteta won there last season, if his side can grab all three points, this will end this poor streak at Spurs.
How Arsenal followed up victories away at Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal followed up their 2014 victory at White Hart Lane with a 2-1 loss in 2014-15. Mesut Ozil opened the scoring, but a brace from Harry Kane sunk the Gunners from a winning position.
Arsenal’s previous league victory at Spurs came in the 2004-05 season, as Arsenal won 5-4 at Spurs, with Robert Pires scoring the winner in what was a dramatic game.
The Gunners stumbled to a 1-1 draw there in the following season, with Pires again scoring an equaliser at what was his old stomping ground.
Arsenal’s only other victory at Spurs in the Premier League came in 1993, with Ian Wright scoring a late winner, and their next visit to the Lane saw them lose 1-0 in January 1995.
Arteta’s side therefore have to ignore history and focus on the three points, and if they pull off a win, it could go down as one of the most significant in the rivalry.