North London Derby Is Already Looming for Title-Chasers Tottenham and Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal enjoyed similar but contrasting experiences in the the last Premier League weekend before the international break.

Each recorded three points to maintain their position at the upper end of the league table, cuing jubilant scenes naturally recorded by their social media teams for posterity. Tottenham’s was a more noteworthy performance, dispatching league leaders Manchester City, but the three points Arsenal earned at Burnley will feel just as important.

YES, YES, YES! How good does that one feel??!! #COYS pic.twitter.com/qEod4NZjPo

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 2, 2016

Incredible scenes#BFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/vN6FpfYhA0

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 2, 2016

Passing the one-month-to-go mark, the first north London derby of the season, set for Nov. 6, is firmly looming. Plenty more will occupy the minds of managers Mauricio Pochettino and Arsene Wenger before then—Champions League and EFL Cup games too—but the likely title implications of this clash make it worth looking toward already.

Assuming both clubs can continue their good form and stay in contention, this is an exciting newer development in this particular rivalry—at least so far as its placement in the Premier League era is concerned.

From the rebranded top flight’s inception in 1992 until around the middle of last decade, it was largely a case of mid-table Spurs versus a title-chasing (and often winning) Gunners. Since the 2005-06 campaign, the Lilywhites’ improved competitiveness and Wenger’s difficulty maintaining his club’s previous elite standing have seen things draw closer, their meetings frequently influencing who would fill out the Champions League qualifying spots.

Last season was the first time in the 21st century when these league derbies (Arsenal also won a League Cup game in September) could be categorised as being between two championship challengers. Perhaps less so the 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium in November, when the notion of Spurs as contenders was in its formative stage, but certainly March’s thrilling 2-2 draw.

“Their first goal was very unlucky,” Spurs defender Kevin Wimmer reflected at the time, per their official website. “Then we went 2-1 up, and we had chances for the third, so it’s disappointing that we conceded the second goal and didn’t win this game.”

He then refocused on the quest for first place: “The point is OK. There’s still a long way to go. We will get our chances, and we have to keep on going like this.”

Speaking to Arsenal’s website, Aaron Ramsey said: “We’ll keep giving everything until the final game of the season is over.”

They would fall short of a serious challenge of eventual champions Leicester City but did end up pipping a despondent Tottenham, disappointed at …

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