If you want to understand why North London stops breathing for ninety minutes twice a year, you have to look past the shiny stadiums and the billionaire owners. It’s about more than three points. Honestly, it’s about a geographical land grab that happened over a century ago and a resentment that literally never went away. People think the Arsenal FC Tottenham Hotspur rivalry is just another "Big Six" clash, but it’s actually a deep-seated grudge fueled by a 1913 relocation and a controversial 1919 election that still gets Spurs fans fired up today.
Arsenal is currently sitting at the top of the Premier League table in early 2026. They have 50 points from 22 matches, a cushion that feels comfortable but dangerous. Meanwhile, Tottenham is having a bit of a rougher ride, sitting 14th with 27 points. But as anyone who’s watched a single derby knows, form is basically irrelevant when these two step onto the pitch.
The Eberechi Eze Masterclass and the Modern Arsenal FC Tottenham Hotspur Dynamic
Most fans are still talking about the absolute demolition that happened back in November 2025. Arsenal walked away with a 4-1 victory, and it wasn't even as close as the scoreline suggests. Eberechi Eze, the man who grew up a Gooner and was actually released by Arsenal at thirteen, came back to haunt Spurs in the most spectacular way possible. He scored a hat-trick.
It was the first hat-trick in a North London derby since Alan Sunderland did it in 1978. That’s nearly fifty years of waiting for a treble.
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The game was cagey for about thirty-five minutes. Then, Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock. From there, Eze just took over. He scored forty-one minutes in, then again thirty-five seconds after the halftime break. Richarlison managed to lob David Raya from forty yards out to give Spurs a tiny glimmer of hope, but Eze shut the door in the 76th minute.
Mikel Arteta has turned this Arsenal side into a machine. They had 17 shots to Tottenham's 3 in that match. It was a statement. But if you think that means the next meeting on February 22, 2026, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a foregone conclusion, you haven't been paying attention to history.
Why the "Home Field Advantage" is Kinda Weird Here
Usually, playing at home is a massive leg up. In this fixture, it’s a bit more complicated. Over the last 185 competitive meetings, Arsenal has 76 wins to Tottenham’s 57. But look at the draws—52 of them. This game has a weird habit of ending in a stalemate when one team is clearly "better" on paper.
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- Arsenal's Biggest Win: 6-0 in 1935.
- Tottenham's Biggest Win: 5-0 in 1911.
- Top Scorer: Harry Kane with 14 goals (though he's at Bayern now).
- The Traitor: Sol Campbell. Mentioning his name still gets a reaction in N17.
The 1919 Election: The Grudge That Won't Die
You'll hear Spurs fans talk about being "the only team from North London." This goes back to when Arsenal moved from Woolwich (South London) to Highbury in 1913. They basically set up shop four miles away from White Hart Lane. It was a total "there goes the neighborhood" moment.
But the real kicker was 1919. The First Division was expanding. Tottenham had finished bottom before the war and expected to stay up. Instead, Arsenal—who had finished sixth in the Second Division—got voted into the top flight. Rumors of "influence" by Arsenal chairman Sir Henry Norris have circulated for a century. Whether it was a "fix" or just savvy politics, it created a permanent divide. Arsenal hasn't been relegated since.
What to Watch for in the February 2026 Rematch
When Arsenal FC Tottenham Hotspur face off again in a few weeks, the stakes couldn't be more different for the two clubs. Arsenal is chasing a title they haven't touched in over twenty years. Tottenham is trying to salvage a season that has seen them slip into the bottom half of the table.
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Tottenham's Micky van de Ven has been surprisingly prolific for a center-back, netting six goals this season. Richarlison is also finding some rhythm with 15 goals in his last 21 starts. For Arsenal, the concern is the health of Gabriel Magalhaes. His thigh injury earlier in the season forced Piero Hincapie into a "baptism of fire" debut.
If you're looking for an edge, keep an eye on the midfield transition. In the November clash, Martin Zubimendi got caught in possession, which led to the Richarlison goal. Arteta’s system relies on perfection in those moments. Spurs, under Ange Postecoglou, are always going to risk it all on the high line. It's either going to be a tactical masterclass or another Eze-style blowout.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the High Line: If Spurs continue to play a suicide-high defensive line against Bukayo Saka and Eze, expect more goals in behind.
- Check the Injury Reports: Gabriel's availability changes the entire structure of Arsenal's buildup. Without him, they are more susceptible to the long-range lob (as Richarlison proved).
- History Repeats: Look for early goals. The momentum in an NLD usually shifts entirely based on who scores in the first fifteen minutes.
- Monitor the Table: If Arsenal's lead over Manchester City shrinks before February 22, the pressure on this specific derby will be suffocating.
The North London derby isn't just a game; it's a hundred-year-old argument that happens to involve a football. Whether you're at the Emirates or the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the atmosphere is heavy with a history that neither side is willing to forget.
Next Steps:
- Monitor the fitness of Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Magalhaes leading up to the February 22nd fixture.
- Compare the xG (Expected Goals) of both teams over the last five matches to see if Arsenal’s finishing is sustainable or if Spurs are due for a statistical "correction."
- Review the disciplinary record of Cristian Romero; his aggression is often the tipping point in high-intensity derbies.