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EPL Super Sunday sees Arsenal renew their rivalry with Tottenham Hotspur. In anticipation of the North London Derby, we take a look at the 10 most unforgettable moments in matches involving these two rivals.
Thierry Henry‘s legendary celebration at Highbury, Arsenal 3-0 Spurs, 16th Nov 2002
Arsenal fans will remember this one for eternity, such was the scene at Highbury when Thierry Henry scored a stupendous solo effort on a counterattack. Following a long throw-in by Spurs, Henry collected the ball well inside the Spurs half and made a run for it. Such was the power and balance of the Frenchman that no Spurs player was able to keep up with him. Eventually, he reached the Spurs box and side-footed the ball in, to the delight of the Highbury faithful.
But he had still enough left in his tank to go on a celebration, which ended with a classic knee slide on the turf, chest stuck out. It was a momentous celebration, rightly identified by Arsenal as the one to be used for Thierry Henry’s statue outside the stadium.
Before this game, Henry hadn’t scored for 7 games. It’s like he was destined to end his dry spell against Spurs!
David Bentley scores a 43-yard scorcher, Arsenal 4- 4 Spurs, 29th October, 2008
David Bentley’s wonder goal against his former club is another one of those “where were you” moments. In an EPL match at the Emirates, Spurs opened the scoring through Bentley’s audacious strike.
After teeing up a header from Tom Huddlestone, Bentley swivelled and let loose a cannonball that completely deceived Almunia. This was Bentley’s first league goal for Spurs after signing for them at the start of the season. Talk about first impressions!
The match would eventually finish 4-4, with Lennon tapping in a last minute equaliser to send the away fans in a frenzy.
Fabregas’ solo goal from kickoff, Arsenal 3-0 Spurs, 31st October 2009
Yet another solo effort, this time from midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas. What makes this moment unforgettable is the fact the Spurs were still reeling from the first goal scored by Robin van Persie when Fabregas intercepted a loose pass straight after kick-off and simply ran through the slumbering Spurs defence. Two goals in 11 seconds and the game was all but over.
The speed and timing of the goal can be understood by looking at the video below. Replays of the first goal and Wenger celebrating are still being shown when Fabregas puts the ball into the net!
Danny Rose’s wonder goal on debut at White Hart Lane, Spurs 2-1 Arsenal, April 2010
Then 19-year-old Danny Rose would not have expected to become an overnight hero amongst the Spurs faithful on his full debut for the senior team. Set to start against rivals Arsenal, Rose would have been nervous simply due to the occasion and the opponent.
But 10 minutes into the game, Arsenal keeper Almunia punch cleared a corner and the ball fell to Rose, who simply swatted it away from 25 yards to send the home crowd into delirium!
Spurs went on to win 2-1, their first win over Arsenal in 11 years.
Tottenham register their first win at Arsenal in 17 years, Arsenal 2-3 Spurs, 20 November 2010
At half-time, with the score at 2-0, Arsenal had this game in the bag. Spurs had gone into the dressing room demoralized and out of ideas, so no one could have foreseen what happened in the next 45 minutes.
Spurs, galvanised by an inspired Rafael van der Vaart, fought back through goals from Bale and van der Vaart himself. With five minutes to go and score at 2-2, Spurs won a freekick which van der Vaart sent curling into the box. Kaboul rose highest to head home, and the comeback was finished.
This was Tottenham’s first win in 17 years at Arsenal, and their first after 68 EPL matches of not winning at any of the Big Four teams.
Adebayor sending off for tackle on Cazorla, Arsenal 5-2 Spurs, 17th November 2012
This match was all about Adebayor, at least while he was on the pitch for all of 17 minutes. Playing against his former team, and seven minutes after giving Spurs a 10th minute lead, Adebayor’s lunge on Cazorla was punished with a straight red card.
Emotion got the better of Adebayor, who goaded the fans after scoring an early goal. A few minutes later, the same fans booed him off the pitch for an early shower. Spurs could not cope with the numerical disadvantage, and lost the match 5-2.
Arsenal winning the title at WHL, Spurs 2-2 Arsenal, 25th April, 2004
The Invincibles of Arsenal visited White Hart Lane in late April, needing just one point to clinch the title. It was earlier reported that the home fans would applaud the opposition if they did manage to win the title, all the while remaining unbeaten. But that was to remain a fantasy as boos and jeers rang around White Hart Lane, with Sol Campbell coming under intense hate from the fans.
Second half goals from Jamir Redknapp and Robbie Keane cancelled out Vieira and Pires’ first half strikes. The 2-2 draw meant Arsenal had won their second title at White Hart Lane, a statistic that continues to haunt Spurs fans.
Kyle Walker’s long-range goal, Spurs 2-1 Arsenal, October 2 2011
Another golden moment from the North London Derby. An early goal by Rafael van der Vaart, the 10,000th goal in Spurs’ history, set the pace for this frantic match between the London rivals. An equaliser by Ramsey early in the second half set up the match brilliantly, only for Kyle Walker to smash in a 30-yard effort 17 minutes from time. Perhaps Szczesny should have done better to keep it out, but then he would have deprived the fans of a spectacular effort
Spurs 4-5 Arsenal, White Hart Lane, 13th November 2004
An astonishing 9-goal match went Arsenal’s way as both defenses had an off-day. A see-saw match saw Spurs open the scoring through Naybet only for Henry to equalise in the 45th minute. A second half blitz by Arsenal gave them a 3-1 lead, until Defoe produced a moment of magic to close the gap. Ljungberg and Pires added further goals, sandwiched by Ledley King’s strike, and even though Kanoute’s 88th minute goal ensured a nervy finish, Arsenal held on for a memorable win.
Lasagne-gate, West Ham 2-1 Spurs, 7th May 2006
On the last day of the season, Spurs travelled to Upton Park needing a win to guarantee Champions League qualification ahead of their rivals Arsenal. Controversy struck hours before the match when 10 Spurs players took ill due to food poisoning. At the centre of the controversy was the the London Marriott in West India Quay and the lasagne that had allegedly caused the problem.
Spurs never really recovered from that blow, and West Ham beat them 2-1. That coupled with Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Wigan on their last day at Highbury ensured the Gunners qualified, much to the chagrin of Spurs boss Martin Jol.
Although the hotel was cleared of any wrongdoing, there are still Spurs fans out there who believe it was a conspiracy hatched by Arsenal to deny Spurs their spot in the sun.
