Source: Daily_Mail
Greatest Arsenal v Tottenham matches remembered: We reveal four of the best
All north London derbies are eagerly awaited, but the match between Arsenal and Tottenham on Saturday is possibly even more interesting than most because both teams are at the top end of the table.[LNB]Arsenal of course have been in and around the top end for many years, but Tottenham have flirted with problems in recent times and their supporters will be delighted with their current position of fourth place.[LNB]Now I should say from the outset that I am not a follower of either team. I am nothing more than an interested observer as far as this skirmish is concerned.[LNB] Famous days: Danny Blanchflower celebrate after Tottenham beat Leicester to clinch the double in 1961[LNB]That said, I sometimes admit to having a soft spot for both these English footballing giants.[LNB]There's the 'Bank of England' club Arsenal with that unmistakeable whiff of nostalgia, their wonderful old home of Highbury and in the last decade or so a manager in Arsene Wenger that is difficult not to like.[LNB]And then there's Tottenham, or Spurs (we can sometimes forget what a superb nickname that actually is) with their tradition of fine football and fine footballers, their superb sides of the 1960s and exciting teams of the 1980s.[LNB]It has to be said that Monsieur Wenger has ensured Arsenal have very much taken the upper hand over their bitter rivals in recent years. In truth they've left Tottenham for dead.[LNB] Glorious triumph: Frank McLintock holds aloft the FA Cup as Arsenal clinch the double in 1971[LNB]The Gunners can now boast 13 league titles and 10 FA Cups, against Tottenham's two and eight respectively. They have also won three doubles (although the 1960-61 double won by Tottenham arguably remains the most celebrated).[LNB]Spurs still have their half-decent European record though, with Arsenal chronically underachieving on the continent over the decades (they have a terrible habit of losing finals). Tottenham have three pots to Arsenal's two on the continent.[LNB]I do have to admit to becoming more than a little disappointed with Tottenham at times over the years. Their win against Anderlecht to claim the UEFA Cup in 1984 remains a special footballing memory indeed, but their return of one FA Cup and two League Cups in the 25 years since has been shocking.[LNB]But let's put aside the stats for a while, something that i find extremely difficult at any time, and focus on some famous matches from the past between these rivals. [LNB]I've still never found an address on the A-Z that I'm more comfortable with than my old friend memory lane ....[LNB]WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY OF MATCHES BETWEEN ARSENAL AND SPURS? HAVE YOUR SAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE 1971: ARSENAL BEAT TOTTENHAM TO CLINCH TITLE AND SET UP DOUBLE CHANCEA huge match between the clubs and still a game that people of a certain age talk about in hushed tones, particularly round Arsenal way.[LNB]It's also one of those games that everyone seems to have been at, a bit like the 1966 World Cup final. It would certainly seem that there were more present than the official 51,000 crowd.[LNB]Arsenal's battle for the league title with Leeds had been intense, and they needed to draw 0-0 or win in their final match at White Hart Lane to see off the Yorkshire outfit.[LNB] Tottenham fans look away now: Arsenal's team travel on an open-top bus through the streets of north London after winning the double in 1971[LNB]The occasion was fraught with nerves as you might imagine, with the match tight and tense. George Graham and John Radford went close as the Gunners nervously edged closer to the title.[LNB]With time running out and Arsenal on the way to securing the goalless draw they needed, they sealed their success when the tireless George Armstrong chipped into the Spurs penalty area and Ray Kennedy powerfully headed into the roof of the net.[LNB]The thousands of Arsenal fans present were sent into delirium with the dream realised of a first league title since 1953, and what was at that time a record eighth championship.[LNB]WATCH GLORIOUSLY GRAINY FOOTAGE OF ARSENAL'S VICTORY ....[LNB][LNB]The Gunners went on to beat Liverpool in the FA Cup final just days later, courtesy of Charlie George and his famous winner.[LNB]A decade after Tottenham had won the first league and cup double of the century, Arsenal followed suit with what must remain to this day their finest hour.[LNB] 1987: ARSENAL COME FROM BEHIND TWICE TO REACH LEAGUE CUP FINALThis one always sticks in the memory for some reason. Even the dear old League Cup meant something in those far-off days and mere mention of the three matches in the 1987 semi-final can still cause pain for one set of supporters, and pure joy for the other.[LNB]Spurs were meant to win this match, you see. For one thing, they were the dominant force in London football back then.[LNB]Arsenal were a decent work in progress, but under David Pleat Tottenham were going great guns and chasing glory on three fronts (ludicrously this is still the only decent dignified assault I've ever seen the club make on the league title).[LNB] Pure old school: Ossie Ardiles clashes with Charlie Nicholas during the first leg[LNB]The first leg was a Sunday afternoon affair at Highbury if memory serves, and live on the box. Younger punters may find it odd but folk in my generation can often remember when games were on telly back then. They were much rarer affairs you see.[LNB] Clive Allen scored the only goal at Highbury in the first leg, and everything was going according to form. When the same man scored again at White Hart Lane three weeks later to put Spurs 2-0 up on aggregate the game seemed to be up for Arsenal.[LNB]Hero: David Rocastle scored Arsenal's winner in the replay[LNB]Folklore has it that the tannoy announcer mentioned ticket details for Wembley, and Tottenham fans were cock-a-hoop.[LNB]Arsenal supporters of a certain vintage will look back allmisty-eyed at the 45 minutes that then followed, and insist it was whenGeorge Graham first began to make his mark on the club.[LNB]Viv Anderson pulled a goal back and Niall Quinn then equalised to send the visiting supporters wild, and set up a replay.[LNB]Pleat won the toss of a coin and the replay took place at White Hart Lane three days later, and Allen again scored for Spurs. It makes a pretty good tale doesn't it - the man that scored in three games of a cup semi-final and still ended up on the losing side.[LNB]Tottenham couldn't press home their advantage in the replay, missing a number of good chances and Arsenal made them pay in a dramatic finish.[LNB]Ian Allinson equalised and then David Rocastle popped up with a late late winner to send Arsenal to Wembley.[LNB]They produced another comeback in the final to surprise Liverpool (fellow Stattos will recall that it was the first time the Merseysiders had scored when Ian Rush scored for them. It happened the following week at Norwich as well. Goodness gracious, I can't recall what I had for dinner last night but I still remember that Liverpool lost at Norwich in April 1987).[LNB]Tottenham suffered disappointment on all fronts that year, with Everton winning the title and Coventry winning an FA Cup final that nearly everybody (apart from Spurs fans of course) remembers with great fondness.[LNB] 1991: GAZZA MAGIC HELPS TOTTENHAM TO FAMOUS WIN OVER OLD RIVALS IN FA CUP SEMI-FINAL AT WEMBLEYYou want to know one way to guarantee a smile from even the most tired of Tottenham fans? Mention the FA Cup semi-final in 1991.[LNB]I have known some classic glass half-empty characters in my time, but mention this match and they can't disguise a childlike delight.[LNB]Arsenal were supposed to win this match, you see. They had won the league title under George Graham two seasons earlier, and would go on to win the great prize again in 1991.[LNB]But Tottenham have always had something about them on the big cup days (at least they always used to) and they truly seized the moment on this memorable afternoon.[LNB] Pure joy: Paul Gascoigne, Steve Sedgeley and Gary Mabbutt celebrate Tottenham's win at Wembley[LNB]Everybody remembers the first goal of course. Pure Gazza. It must be in the top three Paul Gascoigne moments along with those fabled tears of Turin and that memorable European Championship goal against Scotland at Wembley.[LNB]The free-kick was spectacular and the commentary from Barry Davies was pretty special too. [LNB]WATCH GAZZA PRODUCE HIS MOMENT OF MAGIC [LNB][LNB]It paved the way for Tottenham to inflict a painful defeat on the Gunners, with Gary Lineker taking advantage of confusion in the Arsenal defence to poke home a second goal early on.[LNB]Arsenal did improve eventually, and Alan Smith headed a goal back, but just when Tottenham nerves were really threatening to fray Lineker fired home a shot that slipped through the arms of David Seaman.[LNB]Spurs were on their way to Wembley for the last FA Cup final that seemed to really matter (for me the rot set in when Liverpool played Sunderland in the 1992 version). [LNB]Tottenham beat Nottingham Forest, but it was a miserable afternoon for Gascoigne. He should have been sent off, but was instead stretchered off and spent the afternoon in a hospital bed.[LNB] 2008: TOTTENHAM PRODUCE STUNNING LATE COMEBACK TO DENY ARSENAL VICTORY AT EMIRATESThis was an easy night at the office for those who write newspaper headlines for a living. There were 'Harry Houdinis' all over the shop as Tottenham produced the unlikeliest of comebacks at the Emirates Stadium.[LNB]Arsenal were looking brittle, probably still feeling the effects of throwing away a very good chance of winning the title the season before.[LNB] Perfect start: David Bentley celebrates his brilliant opening goal for Tottenham[LNB]But they looked for all the world like claiming victory when they led 4-2 with only minutes of the match remaining, only for Tottenham to stun the Emirates faithful and millions watching on television with a surprising late recovery.[LNB]David Bentley had actually given Tottenham the lead early on with a stunning volley from all of 40 yards, but Mikael Silvestre and William Gallas scored either side of half-time to turn the game round.[LNB] Heads up: Mikael Silvestre scores a goal for Arsenal in a thriller[LNB]Emmanuel Adebayor put the Gunners 3-1 up, and even though Darren Bent scored a second for Tottenham, Robin van Persie was on target to seemingly wrap up victory for the hosts.[LNB]Many Tottenham fans were already heading for the exits when Jermaine Jenas scored with two minutes left.[LNB]How did that happen? Arsenal players were stunned by Tottenham's comeback[LNB] It has to be said that Arsenal then displayed an alarming lack ofmaturity in failing to close out the game, leading Arsene Wenger tothrow a fit or two on the touchline even before Luka Modrik saw hislong-range shot bounce off a post and straight into the path of AaronLennon, who gleefully turned the ball into an empty net.[LNB]Redknapp jumped for joy on the touchline and those Spurs fans thathad showed enough faith to stay had a major reason to forget theirmiserable start to the campaign.[LNB]More of the same on Saturday would godown nicely with us neutrals.[LNB] Robbie Keane convinced Spurs are stronger than Arsenal as Harry Redknapp's side prepare for derby dayBentley races into Redknapp's Spurs plans for showdown with ArsenalArsenal gift Spurs a star: Harry thanks Arsene for giving away £12m PalaciosARSENAL FC
