Arsenal vs Tottenham: Humiliating Wilshere, sticking Sansom onto the running track, and almost missing a debut – Spurs legends on the north London derby

Arsenal will host Tottenham in the first North London derby of the new season this weekend.

Both sides have come under fire in the Premier League so far this term, but this fixture tends to bring out the best of the players.

The two sides had to create their own atmosphere last time out, but with a full Emirates Stadium, the bitter rivalry as we know it will return for neutrals and fans alike.

Even when the sides aren’t at their best, they still manage to put on a show for spectators around the globe with matches full of skill and spite.

The fixture two years ago is a great example. Tottenham surprised the hosts with two first half goals from Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen before the Gunners fought back to draw 2-2 courtesy of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Goals, tackles, fury, red cards, nerve-shredding endings, comebacks, and more have been a feature across the last century, since Arsenal swapped Plumstead for Woolwich, parking their tank firmly on Spurs’ lawn in 1913.

The rivalry fully gathered pace after World War I when, in dubious circumstances, Arsenal found themselves promoted to an expanded First Division in 1919, despite finishing sixth in the Second Division, while Tottenham were relegated – even though Chelsea (who should also have been demoted) saw them retain their place in the top flight.

The Gunners were given their place in a vote with 18, ahead of Spurs, and five other clubs, after being endorsed by League president and Liverpool chairman John McKenna, while there are also allegations chairman Sir Henry Norris may have used other means to get them into the First Division.

Either way, it infuriated Tottenham and their fans causing bad blood immediately.

Once Spurs returned to the top flight a year later they were quick with their vengeance – the first ever competitive north London derby ended up as a 2-1 win for the Lilywhites at White Hart Lane.

Meanwhile, a match in September 1922  – won 2-1 by Arsenal – was so bad tempered both clubs were censured by the Football Association.

The Sunday Evening Telegram’s report said: “After the Spurs goal came the most disgraceful scene I have witnessed on any ground at any time. Players pulled the referee, blows with fists were exchanged, and all the dignity that appertains in the referee was rudely trampled on.”

In October, 1922, an FA committee banned Spurs’ Bert Smith for a month for the ‘filthy language’ he used towards Arsenal’s Alex Graham, while Graham was censured for retaliating.

The report added: “The Commission is satisfied that the spectators interfered with the proper conduct of the match, and they are warned that a repetition of such conduct will result in the closing of the ground, at great loss to the club and also themselves.”

So, when you see Eric Dier, shushing the Emirates faithful with his index finger, just know it has been a whole lot worse – even in the early more gentlemanly days.

But what do those who have experienced the north London derby have to say about playing it? talkSPORT.com takes a look.

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Throughout the 1990s, Arsenal’s dominance was a real downer for fans but Spurs ace Darren Anderton could never be accused of not giving his all.

He was just as desperate for the three points as those in the stands.

“It’s great. It’s not just about the game, it’s about the two weeks before,” the former England international said. “Fans start reminding you about it. It’s the fixture you look at at the start of the season when they come out.

“For me I always think it’s the best game to play in. It’s so quick. You’ve got to be right on your game or you get clumped. The atmosphere is better than any other game.

“You want to do it for the fans as well. You don’t want send the fans to work on Monday getting beat.”

And even Ledley King, who was with Tottenham in brighter times, was extremely aware of which set of supporters made the most noise.

“It’s a big one. It goes back a long way and on the day of the game there is a different feeling about it.

“Whatever the balance of power between the Spurs and Arsenal teams, between the two sets of fans there has only been one winner for passion.”

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One recent hero for Spurs was Jermaine Jenas, who popped up with a few key goals against the Gunners, including some long range stunners.

His derby day luck made him a hit not just on the football pitch, but on the forecourt too.

Jenas said: “I just always seemed to play well against Arsenal when I was at Tottenham and that is one of the things Spurs fans remember me for.

“I remember another game, this time at White Hart Lane, where we hadn’t played particularly well, but I scored the equaliser with pretty much the last kick of the game and it finished 2-2.

“To this day, that is one of the games people stop me at petrol stations to ask me about because it meant so much to Tottenham fans.”

While in another interview, he added: “Once I hit it, I knew Jens Lehmann was in trouble. Everything after that was a blur.

“I remember running, jumping, shouting and screaming and there were fans on me. That was the first time I got to bond with them. That was really important for me, a big moment that broke the ice.”

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Peter Crouch had two spells at Tottenham one as an academy starlet and the other as superstar who had played around the country with plenty of success.

The striker was delighted to finally get a chance to play in a north London derby having watched them while on the club’s books as a kid.

He revealed: “I remember watching the games from the stands as a youth player, and the atmosphere and passion were incredible. I’d always hoped I’d be lucky enough to play in one of them.

“I remember the sendings-off in Spurs’ last League win [over Arsenal before an unbeaten run – Fredrik Ljungberg and Martin Keown saw red in 1999], which were quite funny!”

There have been plenty of Tottenham debuts against Arsenal but, going back a little bit, club legend Cliff Jones almost didn’t make it onto the pitch for his in a 4-4 draw in 1958.

He revealed: “I was doing national service in St John’s Wood when Bill Nicholson told me to be at Highbury for 1.30pm for my debut.

“I travelled by tube, arrived at the marbled halls, and they would not let me in. I said: “I’ve just signed for Spurs for £35,000,” but the doorman replied: “I’ve heard that before, son.”

“Bill Nicholson had to be sent for. He said: “That’s him,” shook my hand, and added: “By the way, you’re late.” I hadn’t even trained with my team mates.”

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Believe it or not, but Terry Venables was best man to Arsenal star George Graham in 1967. Not only that – they played a north London derby at Highbury in the afternoon! (Let’s forget that Woolwich Wanderers won 4-0)

And the man who went on to manage England and Spurs, as well as Barcelona, knew exactly what supporters went through before and after a derby.

“You are so keyed up for that game, all you want to do is win,” he revealed.

“The build-up is tremendous. The anticipation and the fear of losing. People want to win that game. They want to be proud over the guy that works next to them because of the fact they get the laugh and that is what they really don’t like – someone taking the mickey and putting you through it.

“I would say in the 1960s it was no different [to now] really because the only one thing in their minds is winning that game. The streets were packed very early on. They wanted to savour the atmosphere and basically you couldn’t wait for that kick off.”

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Managers are just as keen on winning as the players and fans, and legendary Spurs boss Bill Nicholson’s passion was extremely evident to Pat Jennings.

“They were games you didn’t really want to play in because you didn’t want to lose them and those were the two games under Bill Nicholson, that we had to win,” said the goalkeeping great.

“We knew how important it was to supporters to win the match.”

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Ossie Ardiles was another man who knew just how passionate things got and the rules and rituals which fans abide by and are passed on to the stars on the pitch.

He said in his autobiography: “When I was playing for Tottenham, the Arsenal-Spurs rivalry was so strong. We couldn’t even wear red. The passions between the two clubs… we couldn’t put on a red tie or drive a red car.

“I knew what to expect from a derby – every player in the world knows what a local derby is like – but Arsenal-Spurs was a notch higher than anything else I had experienced.

“The north London derby was, well, the match of the season, incredibly important.”

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Just like Jenas did, most players know scoring against the Gunners is the way to appease the White Hart Lane faithful.

Paul Gascoigne managed some specials in his time but forget the free-kick – he got his first ever Spurs goal in the derby and he did it without a boot on!

“We faced Arsenal at home,” Gazza recalled. “I lost a boot in the tackle with Paul Davis when he accidentally stood on it. I still had one shoe on, one shoe off when Chris Waddle put the ball through to me but I managed to steer the ball past John Lukic and into the net with my stockinged foot.

“That pleased the crowd. I think the Spurs fans took to me after that.”

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If you can’t manage a goal, though, a tackle works just as well – just ask Graham Roberts.

The midfielder said: “I remember my first derby, November 1980, a League Cup tie, we won 1-0 at the Lane. I came on as substitute. I remember tackling Kenny Sansom and putting him on the running track. I was playing right-back, he was left-back. We were 1-0 up and it was about putting our bodies on the line to get that win.”

But a goal really does do the trick, as Micky Hazard will tell you.

“I’d been at the Club since I was 16, so I knew what it was all about. I’d been through the process of learning exactly what it meant. So on the way there, it was building up and building up.

“I scored a worldie. Ricky Villa passed me the ball, I went past three men and smacked it into the top corner from 25 yards. I then set up another goal for Garth Crooks, jinked through the offside trap and squared it for Garth to tap in. We won 3-1 and there we were, in front of the North Bank celebrating. What a moment. It was a great era for us.”

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Rafael van der Vaart is a modern great in N17, despite his short time with the club, and played a part in a stunning 3-2 comeback win at the Emirates.

While, Nicholson showed the passion to win, the Dutchman revealed Harry Redknapp had a far simpler way in a north London derby.

“Afterwards we went into town and all the people we met were like: ‘wow, Harry is a brilliant manager!’,” he reminisced

“Because we were losing 2-0, people were asking me: ‘what did he tell the players before the second half?!’ I was like: ‘what he told us?!’ ‘Nothing at all, haha!’

“When Redknapp came in you could tell he was angry but he didn’t speak. The only thing he said was: ‘Lennon out, Defoe in.’ And then he left again. We were sitting there and were thinking we should perhaps try and keep the damage limited, like to not concede more than four goals. But then we came out of the changing room and won 3-2.”

Van der Vaart also scored two goals in a 3-3 draw which had everything – but despite scoring twice on the night, something else really stood out.

“I remember nutmegging Jack Wilshere twice in the space of a few seconds,” he said joyfully. “You can still find that on YouTube. That was one of my best football nights ever. I felt so free on the pitch, it was incredible. I really think it was one of my best games in my career.

“I don’t remember him saying anything to me. All I remember is what I said to him afterwards: ‘Close your legs next time!’”

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The hate is strong between the two clubs and even if you haven’t played in a derby for some time you’re still not getting away without any abuse, reckons Gary Stevens.

“They were horrible games to play in: frantic, frenetic, tense,” the ex-England star said. “It takes over the fans. I still get a right earful from the Arsenal fans when I see them.

Gary Lineker has played in north London derbies, as well as the one on Merseyside and El Clasico but there can be only one for him.

“The north London derby is different from the others I’ve played in. When you play in the Nou Camp [for Barcelona] there are no away fans – the atmosphere is totally different. And the Merseyside derby is a family thing. There’s a lot more venom in the Spurs-Arsenal game.

“There was a hell of a lot of tension. But the [3-1 FA Cup] semi-final win over them in 1991 was a brilliant day for all of us.”