This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
July 11, 2020 - The Premier League's north London derby has traditionally been a fiercely contested affair, with Tottenham and Arsenal vying for dominance. However, this season's clash may lack the usual intensity, with both teams seemingly out of the running for a Champions League spot.
Jose Mourinho's Tottenham have a point to prove, as Mikel Arteta's rejuvenated Arsenal threaten to tip the balance of power in north London back in their favor.
For 22 years, from 1995 to 2017, Spurs failed to finish above their rivals in the Premier League. Arsenal fans even celebrated the day they could no longer be caught by Spurs as 'St Totteringham's Day.'
However, as the Gunners' glory years under Arsene Wenger faded away, Spurs became the dominant force. When goals from Dele Alli and Harry Kane secured a win over Arsenal at White Hart Lane three years ago, there were hopes Mauricio Pochettino could build a title-winning team to play in the club's new stadium.
Instead, the rising cost of the £1 billion Tottenham Hotspur stadium weighed heavily. Pochettino was sacked in November, with Spurs on the slide due to a stale squad.
Arsenal changed managers too, with Unai Emery unable to turn around the club's fortunes. But after heading in different directions - Spurs appointing Mourinho while Arsenal gave Arteta his first managerial job - Arsenal appear to be better prepared heading into next season.
Mourinho and Arteta have both returned 1.6 points-per-game in the Premier League so far. However, the Spaniard has galvanised supporters and blooded promising youngsters, pointing to a brighter future.
Eighteen-year-old Bukayo Saka provided his 12th assist of the season in Tuesday's 1-1 draw against Leicester and committed his future to the club by signing a new long-term contract last week. Arteta is also doing his bit to convince Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to extend his contract beyond next year.
By contrast, tensions are already becoming strained between Mourinho and his playing squad. Mourinho said a lack of fight in a 3-1 defeat by Sheffield United 'destroys me a little bit on the inside,' while captain Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min appeared to show too much fight as they had to be separated by teammates during Monday's 1-0 win over Everton.
A dire 0-0 draw at Bournemouth on Thursday saw Spurs fail to muster a single shot on target against a side that had conceded nine times in their previous two games. That saw Tottenham remain a point behind Arsenal in ninth, with little cause for optimism that Mourinho can turn things around in the short break before next season begins.
