Arsenal can repeat history in upcoming north London derby

History could repeat itself for Arsenal on Thursday when they tackle Tottenham in the latest installment of the north London derby.

While far away from a repetition of the title-clinching games of 1971 when Ray Kennedy headed home at White Hart Lane and the 2-2 draw in 2004 that saw the Gunners win the league title for the second time on enemy territory, it is a chance to rub salt into the wounds of their bitter rivals.

Securing a first league victory there in eight years would see one half of north London celebrate more than just bragging rights. What could be repeated is confirmation of one side’s superiority over the other, and the benefits of having elite European competition would allow Arsenal to push further away from their rivals with a summer of invaluable investment.

Arsenal will travel to face Spurs four points clear in the table with a chance to clinch Champions League football with a win at the expense of their bitter rivals – and on their home turf for good measure.

Arsenal can repeat history in upcoming north London derby against Tottenham by asserting their dominance over their rivals in top four race

The win against Leeds has given Arsenal an excellent cushion with just three games to go, especially when Tottenham dropped two points against Liverpool a day prior.

Having had their destiny in their own hands for the majority of the last two months, the Gunners have put their latter season wobbles against Crystal Palace, Brighton, and Southampton behind them. The club has reeled off four consecutive wins, with two coming impressively away at Chelsea and home to Manchester United.

Just the mere fact that Arsenal is in this position is unbelievable. Looking back at the Gunners’ start to the league campaign, it was a nightmare that showed faint signs of improvement.

Three consecutive losses to Brentford, Chelsea, and a 5-0 smashing at the hands of Manchester City meant the knives were out, fans were disillusioned, and Mikel Arteta’s job was just about finished.

However, fast forward to now, and Arsenal is a team transformed. So much that they are favorites to clinch Champions League football when at the start of the season, the Europa League was considered the maximum possible achievement.

Now we come to what some have called the final game of Arsenal’s season, the north London Derby. 90 minutes between derby day spoils and a return to the Champions League.

Tottenham put up a fight against Liverpool but have won just two out of their last five, whereas Arsenal has won four out of their last five. The Gunners won the first matchup at the Emirates back in September with goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Bukayo Saka serucing a 3-1 win.

Now, with so much on the line, it is an excellent comfort to know that Arsenal is still in the box seat even with a loss. Despite that, though, a win would surely be the perfect tonic. Secure Champions League football and condemn your bitter rivals to the Europa League, how sweet would that be?

The game on Thursday has so much riding on it, more so for Spurs than Arsenal, but there is a tempting carrot dangling in front of Arteta’s young side: hammering the final nail in the coffin of Tottenham’s Premier League top four aspirations.

There could not be a better way to clinch the prize that Arsenal had once taken for granted, a top-four finish on enemy territory.

That is what is facing Arteta’s team on Thursday, and by the end of the 90 minutes, the club that not many gave hope of getting Champions League football could have their place in the most prestigious club competition in the world with two games to spare.

The finish line is tantalizingly close.