Notebook – Spurs v Arsenal

This evening, we are set to face one of the biggest games of our season and one of the biggest north London derbies of the modern era as we take on Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (7.45pm kick-off).

Here in the Notebook, take a look at the game’s key points of note…

1 - A must-win game

The situation is clear. Tonight’s game is ‘must win’. With just three games remaining and Arsenal four points ahead of us and occupying fourth place - the final Champions League qualification spot - we know we need to close the gap between the sides and so three points tonight is a must.

While victory would not see us overtake the Gunners, it would put us in position to strike if Arsenal are to drop any points in the final two games of the season. If we were to draw, mathematically, we would still have a slim chance of qualifying for European football’s elite club competition while defeat would all but end our challenge.

2 - Our ‘new’ home’s first capacity north London derby

Incredibly, despite us having moved to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over three years ago, tonight’s game will be the first north London derby at our 'new' home in front of a capacity crowd.

We have previously hosted Arsenal twice at our 62,850-seater home but, with both meetings being played out amid the national restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first – a 2-1 win in July, 2020 - saw no fans in attendance while the second - a 2-0 win in the December of that year as restrictions were loosened - was watched by just 2,000 fans. This evening, with a sell-out crowd expected in N17, you can expect quite the atmosphere inside the bowl.

3 - South stand tifo display

In the moments ahead of kick-off tonight, our imposing 17,500-seater South Stand will be on its feet to welcome the players to the pitch with a special message. To befit the high stakes and emotions of this game, a tifo display will arise from the stand as the players enter the pitch with fans holding up blue and white bags, creating a message for the players similar to what was previously seen ahead of our home Champions League quarter-final and semi-finals bouts with Manchester City and Ajax in the 2018/19 season. However, whereas three years ago the message read ‘TO DARE IS TO DO’, this evening, it shall read ‘DARE, DREAM, DO’.

4 - Antonio’s derby debut

This evening’s clash with Arsenal will be Antonio Conte’s first taste of a north London derby. Having managed Juventus in the Derby dela Mole (P3 W3) and Internazionale in the Derby della Madonnina (P5 W4 L1), Antonio will be looking to keep his impressive derby record up as he steps out into this historic fixture for the first time.

However, in his eight games against Arsenal to date, all coming during his two years as Chelsea Head Coach, the Italian has won just once, that being a 3-1 victory in his first home game against the Gunners in February, 2017. Of the other seven encounters, he has drawn three and lost four.

5 - Home comforts

In recent Premier League seasons in this derby though, home advantage has been the key to deciding the winner. In a run stretching back to the 2008/09 campaign, just twice has the away side taken all three points, with us securing a 3-2 win at the Emirates in November, 2010, and Arsenal winning 1-0 at the Lane in March, 2014. We have won four of the last five meetings between the sides on our own turf and are unbeaten in our last seven (W5 D2).

6 - N17 form

And, while we are enjoying a strong run at home against Arsenal, we are also enjoying an impressive recent run at home in the Premier League. Out of our last five outings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, we have won four times (L1) and in each of those games we have scored at least three times.

7 - Arsenal’ away day strength

It must be noted though that Arsenal have enjoyed quite the run on the road recently in the Premier League. In their last nine games away from home, the Gunners have picked up seven wins, losing just twice in a run that stretches back to December. In that time they have picked up all three points at Leeds, Norwich, Wolves, Watford, Aston Villa, Chelsea and West Ham.

8 - Conceding early

While their strength on the road is clear, Arsenal have had a habit of late of conceding goals in the first half of matches. In five of their last six games on the road in the Premier League, they have conceded within the opening 45 minutes. That was after having kept their opponents from scoring in seven of their previous nine first halves in the top flight.

9 - A rare Thursday derby

Incredibly, this will be just the second-ever north London derby played out on a Thursday – and we took the spoils in the first. Back in May, 1972, almost 50 years to the day, we came out on top at Highbury with a 2-0 win as Ralph Coates and Alan Mullery on target for us.

10 - Sonny and Kane

This is a game that both Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane love to play in. Firstly, Harry is the all-time record goalscorer in this fixture with 11 north London derby goals to his name, and that includes seven goals in his last seven home outings against Arsenal.

Sonny meanwhile has been involved in eight goals in his last eight appearances against the Gunners (four goals, four assists). In only two of his last eight games against Arsenal has he failed to register either a goal or an assist while in each of our encounters with the Gunners so far at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium he has both scored and assisted.