The North London Derby is upon us and it is hard to remember a time when it has mattered more or when more has been at stake.
In a season when the Premier League table has had so many crunching fights from its tip to its toe, you could be forgiven for forgetting the humble battle for the fourth Champions League spot.
But, in London and beyond, fans will be scrambling to find a glimpse of a TV screen tonight to watch the action as the biggest North London Derby in decades plays out in real-time at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
In an almost theatrical manner, following the rescheduling of the fixture's original date due to Covid controversy, it seems as if the Premier League has plotted to rearrange the derby on the most dramatic day possible to set up a gripping finale worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster.
This year, both teams are at various stages of their recovery from falls from lofty heights, both too at different points along the road from coming back after notoriously difficult new stadium builds - a tricky journey where the financial incentive of the Champions League could be the difference between swimming or drowning.
What is the North London Derby?
The North London Derby is any fixture played between rival clubs Tottenham and Arsenal, taking place at least twice a year.
Each year the fixture is played two times in the Premier League, with games held at both of Tottenham and Arsenal’s home grounds, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Emirates Stadium respectively.
Some seasons, as an added treat, the two might meet in either the FA or League cups.
They last met in the League Cup in 2018, but haven't shared a pitch in the FA Cup since 2014.
The fixture’s huge hype dates back to 1887, but their first league clash in the top flight of English football didn't come until 1909.
However, the derby didn’t truly become the North London Derby, or NLD, until 1913 when Arsenal upped sticks from their traditional home in Plumstead to Arsenal Stadium in Highbury.
Tottenham regarded Highbury as their territory and so began the bad blood.
The two clubs' stadiums are just four miles apart with each and every edition of the NLD surrounded by huge build-up and anticipation.
Internationally it is regarded as one of the most famous and fiercely contested derbies in football.
Tottenham vs Arsenal head to head record
Ahead of the May 12 North London Derby, dubbed the biggest in decades, Tottenham and Arsenal have played each other 204 times, with Arsenal having had the better of the results.
The Gunners have won the tie 84 times, while Tottenham have been victorious 66 times, meaning Arsenal have bested Tottenham 18 times more throughout the two clubs’ intertwined histories.
They have drawn a further 54 times. Arsenal’s best result came in their 6-0 win in 1935, while Tottenham’s came in their 5-0 thrashing of the Gunners in 1983.
Overall, Tottenham striker Harry Kane is the most prolific goalscorer in the fixture, having put the ball in the back of the net 11 times.
How can I watch the North London Derby?
The North London Derby will take place on May 12, 2022, at 19:45. It will be televised live on Sky Sports.
