In what has been one of the most exciting Premier League season’s to date it seems as though the title race is going to come down to who wants it the most with Leicester City, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur battling it out for England’s top honour.
Leicester go into the weekend three points ahead of Tottenham and six ahead of Arsenal and with both playing each other this weekend the Midlands club could extend their lead further.
Saturday lunchtime will see one of the most crucial North London derbies for sometime with a lot more than pride at stake, defeat for Arsenal would all but end their hopes of winning the title and heap further pressure on Arsene Wenger.
Tottenham in the meantime are having their best season for sometime but defeat at West Ham in midweek put a dent in their hopes given the opportunity they had to go top following Leicester’s midweek draw with West Brom the night before.
So our landlord here in The Transfer Tavern has been having a look back at the history books and picked in his opinion the best five North London derbies.
Hit the image below to see the FIVE best North London derbies!
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25th April 2004: Tottenham Hotspur 2 Arsenal 2
An all action game between the two rivals which went to the wire.
Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires goals got Arsenal in at half time two goals to the good.
But in the second half Tottenham looked a different side and when Jamie Redknapp scored with 20 minutes remaining it gave the Spurs fans hope.
Going into stoppage time Spurs were awarded a penalty which Robbie Keane converted and the comeback was complete.
13th November 2004: Tottenham Hotspur 4 Arsenal 5
This game has got to go down as one of if not the best North London derbies ever.
After what turned out to be a nervy first half for both teams with them going in at 1-1 thanks to goals from Nourredine Naybet and a Thierry Henry equaliser in the final minute of the half no one could have envisaged the drama that was to unfold in the second half.
By the hour mark Arsenal had flown into a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Lauren from the penalty spot and Patrick Vieira, before Jermain Defoe reduced the deficit.
Freddy Ljungberg restored Arsenal two Gil advantage before Ledley King scored to make the game 4-3, with nine minutes remaining Robert Pires made it 5-3 before Frederic Kanoute made it 5-4 with two minutes remaining, but it ended that way after what was an exciting last few minutes of the game.
29th October 2008: Arsenal 4 Tottenham Hotspur 4
One game that will go down in the greatest comebacks in the history of Tottenham in a game against Arsenal.
All began well for Tottenham when David Bentley scored a wonder striker to put them a goal up, but thanks to goals from William Gallas, Gilberto, and Emmanuel Adebayor they found themselves 3-1 down.
Darren Bent pulled one back, before Robin Van Persie restored the two goal advantage for Arsenal.
All looked over going into the final minute of the game before Jermaine Jenas gave Spurs a glimmer of hope, but in the final seconds of the four added minutes a deflected Luka Modric shot found its way to Lennon who levelled the game with the final kick of the game.
20th November 2010: Arsenal 2 Tottenham Hotspur 3
Yet another thriller at the Emirates when Tottenham came back to clinch another great game between the two sides.
Arsenal flew out the traps and found themselves two goals up within 27 minutes thanks to goals from Samir Nasri and Marrouane Chamakh.
At half time no one would have thought Arsenal would collapse in the way they did and whatever was said by Harry Redknapp during the half time break clearly worked.
Goals from Gareth Bale, Rafael Van Der Vaart, and Younes Kaboul four minutes from time earnt Spurs their first win at Arsenal for 17 years.
20th April 2011: Tottenham Hotspur 3 Arsenal 3
This game at White Hart Lane turned out to be another cracker between the two sides.
Five first half goals set the tone for what was to be another test of nerves for the fans of both teams.
Theo Walcott gave Arsenal the lead on five minutes before Rafael Van Der Vaart equalised just two minutes later.
Samir Nasri extended the lead just five minutes later and Robin Van Persie had Arsenal looking comfortable five minutes before half time extending the lead to 3-1.
Tom Huddlestone had other ideas when he scored just before half time and the comeback was complete with 20 minutes remaining in the game when Spurs were awarded a penalty which Van Der Vaart converted to earn the club a draw.
