The dates for next season's Premier League North London Derbies have been revealed.
Arsenal will host Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on the 1st of October 2022 after what looks like a relatively kind opening set of fixtures for them, while Spurs have a tougher-looking start to the season. The return fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will take place on January 14th 2023 in the first weekend of Premier League fixtures after the FA Cup third round.
Last season Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners in the opening clash of the season between these two local rivals in September. Goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka were enough to claim a victory that got the Gunners' season up and running after a slow start that had left them bottom of the table after just three games. While it was a positive day for Mikel Arteta it proved to be the first of many nails in the coffin for Nuno Espirito Santo.
READ MORE: Arsenal 2021/22 Premier League fixtures in full:
The second fixture was due to take at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 16th by which time Antonio Conte had replaced Nuno in the Spurs dugout. However, the game was controversially postponed at Arsenal's request COVID, existing and recent injuries and players on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
This prompted fury from Tottenham who released a statement condemning the Premier League's decision. "The original intention of the guidance was to deal with player availability directly affected by COVID cases, resulting in depleted squads that, when taken together with injuries, would result in the club being unable to field a team," it read. "We do not believe it was the intent to deal with player availability unrelated to COVID.
"We may now be seeing the unintended consequences of this rule. It is important to have clarity and consistency on the application of the rule."
The game was then rescheduled to take place in May, which proved to be crucial in the race for the top four. Spurs were able to seize the momentum with a 3-0 victory courtesy of a brace from Harry Kane and a goal from Heung-Min Son, while Arsenal were reduced to 10 men following the first-half dismissal of Rob Holding.
The Gunners went on to lose their next game to Newcastle, meaning that Tottenham were able to secure qualification for the Champions League by just two points. Arsenal now be targeting revenge in this year's North London Derby. However, Spurs have already stolen the march in the transfer market by completing moves for Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster and agreeing a £25 million deal with Brighton for Yves Bissouma.
