Arsenal travel to Tottenham this week in what is arguably the biggest North London Derby in some time, with both sides fighting for the fourth and final UEFA Champions League spot.
Whilst the Gunners have points and form in their hands, the red side from north London have not won against Tottenham away from the Emirates Stadium in the league in over eight years.
During that time, Arsene Wenger was manager of the Gunners, top-four was a regular occurrence for Arsenal, and Tottenham were starting to gain momentum in their eventual plot to overtake their north London rivals in the coming Premier League years.
Eight years is a long time in football, and here at HITC Sport, we will take a look back at Arsenal’s XI from that game at White Hart Lane, where an early Tomas Rosicky goal was all that separated the two sides on the day.
GK – Wojciech Szczesny
With 16 clean sheets this season, Wojciech Szczesny looked set to become Arsenal’s starting goalkeeper for many years to come, yet as we know, things in north London with the Polish international quickly turned south.
Despite how it ended for Szczesny at Arsenal, the now-Juventus star has always spoken of his love for the Gooners, and the video of the keeper signing ‘It’s Happened Again’ after Spurs Spursing it up went viral on social media and continues to resurface.
RB – Bacary Sagna
Takehiro Tomiyasu’s breakout season with Arsenal has seen the Japanese defender earn praise and comparisons to Bacary Sagna, who played a similar role to the fullback during his many years with the Gunners.
The former France international was regarded for his ability to win aerial duels and for his power and pace down the right flank, and Sagna still remains one of the shrewdest pieces of business Wenger made during his time at Arsenal.
CB – Per Mertesacker
The captain on the day and a huge reason behind Arsenal’s win on this day, Per Mertesacker in the 2013/14 season was the best the towering German ever performed for the Gunners this campaign.
Now Arsenal’s head of academy which has since seen the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe become crucial members of the first team, Mertesacker has become a key member for the Gunners off the pitch, and his impact in the coming years will be huge for developing the next generation.
CB – Laurent Koscielny
Another defender who was exceptional against Tottenham in this fixture eight years ago, Laurent Koscielny arguably still holds the title for the best defender to play for Arsenal since the move to Emirates Stadium, despite how the centre-back left north London.
His falling out with the club in 2019 burnt many bridges between Koscielny and Arsenal, and his transfer to Bordeaux that summer left a bitter taste in the mouths of supporters, especially given all the defender had done for the club.
LB – Kieran Gibbs
Like Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs looked to be on course to be a key member of Arsenal’s backline for years, with the English defender having an impressive campaign with the Gunners this season.
However, injuries and the legend of Nacho Monreal meant that Gibbs lost his place in the Gunners XI, with the defender now in MLS with David Beckham’s Inter Miami franchise after four years at West Brom.
CM – Mikel Arteta
The man behind Arsenal’s top-four charge this season and heading into Thursday’s derby tied down to the club until 2025, Mikel Arteta will be hopeful of once again leading the Gunners to victory against Tottenham.
The Spanish midfield was a consistent fixture for Wenger during this period for Arsenal, with Arteta taking the captain’s armband in the following season after the departure of Thomas Vermaelen.
CM – Santi Cazorla
Partnering Arteta on this occasion was Santi Cazorla, who in his second season for Arsenal solidified himself as one of the best playmakers in the Premier League and a player who was crucial to the Gunners finishing in the top four.
Two-footed and versatile in the midfield, Cazorla is still one of the most beloved players of the Emirates era for Arsenal fans, and his sad ending to his time in north London still leaves many supporters wondering what would have happened had the Spaniard remained fit.
RM – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
With Player of the Season Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott both out injured, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started on the wing for this fixture against Tottenham, and the England international played a big role in the win.
The £35m Liverpool star assisted the only goal in this fixture in one of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s most important goal involvements during his time at Arsenal, with the winger departing for Anfield three years later in 2017.
CAM – Tomas Rosicky
As mentioned, Rosicky’s thunderbolt was all that separated the two sides against Tottenham in this fixture back in 2014, and whilst the Czech Republic legend was mostly injured during his time with Arsenal, ‘Little Mozart’ is still a cult hero in the red half of north London.
A key member of the 2014 and 2015 FA Cup-winning squads, Rosicky made a noticeable impact for Arsenal in their early years at the Emirates, and his goal against Tottenham in this fixture is one of the playmaker’s best in his entire career.
LM – Lukas Podolski
Another fan favourite amongst Arsenal supporters, Lukas Podolski enjoyed a productive season this campaign with the Gunners, with the German legend bagging some crucial goals as Wenger’s side finished in the top four and won the FA Cup.
Still playing at the age of 36 for boyhood side Gornik Zabrze in Poland, Podolski will always have a special place in Arsenal history for his character off the pitch and finishing off the pitch, with Wenger even stating that the striker had the hardest shot out of anyone he has managed.
ST – Olivier Giroud
A striker who divided opinion during his time at Arsenal, Olivier Giroud ended this season as the Gunners’ top goalscorer, with the French striker even bagging the winner in the reverse fixture against Tottenham earlier in the campaign.
Currently at AC Milan and in line to feature again for France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Giroud has aged like a fine wine despite the inconstant performances that have followed him since he departed from Arsenal in 2018.
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