#4 Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
One of the fiercest rivalries in English football, the battle of North London between Arsenal and Tottenham has been a staple of the English top flight and a constant in the English Premier League. In the Premier League era, Arsenal dominated the rivalry until 2010 when Spurs finally won at Arsenal for the first time in 17 years.
Further, Arsenal fans celebrate St.Totteringham’s Day every year on the day when Spurs cannot mathematically finish above Arsenal in the league table adding to the agony of the Spurs fanbase. In fact, the last time Tottenham finished above Arsenal in the league was the 1994-1995 EPL season.
However, the rise of Gareth Bale and his subsequent mega-sale to Real Madrid, followed by shrewd acquisitions over subsequent years under Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and the mild stagnation of Arsenal in recent years have nearly levelled the playing field between the sides.
The appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as manager turned out to be a masterstroke as he led Spurs to a title fight with Leicester last season. However, a dramatic late season collapse meant Arsenal finished above Tottenham on the final day of the season yet again.
This season promises to be an exciting one in North London as Arsenal and Spurs start a season, evenly matched, and both gunning for glory and bragging rights.
Provisional EPL Fixture Dates
Arsenal vs Tottenham – 6th November 2016
Tottenham vs Arsenal – 29th April 2017
