No one has began a battle in a north London derby; nor begun a sectarian feud that’s lasted effectively over a century.
But Arsenal v Tottenham is among the many fiercest rivalries in world soccer, and Sunday’s huge conflict on the Emirates guarantees to be spicier than most.
For the primary time in years, both are flying excessive. They every have 13 factors from 15, with solely Manchester City having a 100% report.
Spurs are second with Liverpool third, and the Gunners fourth on objective distinction.
Not sufficient to spark hostilities on a par with Honduras and El Salvador who fought a cross-border battle after a World Cup qualifier in 1969.
Or stoke the Rangers v Celtic bitterness throughout the spiritual divide in Glasgow. But it gained’t be for the faint-hearted.
Arsenal are the favourites. Besides the house benefit, they go into the sport having made a superb return to the Champions League after a six-year absence.
A 4-0 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven noticed them take cost of Group B after primary rivals Seville had been surprisingly held to a house draw by RC Lens.
It will now take a significant upset for the Gunners to not undergo to the knock-out part.
Spurs sat out the European video games, not even qualifying for the so-called graveyard shift (Thursday-Sunday matches) brought on by the Europa League.
But as Chelsea discovered beneath Antonio Conte, a lighter fixture load, an absence of journey and extra time on the coaching floor can be a boon.
They grew to become champions the next season.
And Spurs will nonetheless be buoyed by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in opposition to Sheffield United final weekend.
There’s nothing like scoring within the 98th and a centesimal minutes to elevate gamers, followers and a complete membership. Just take a look at the celebrations.
And as if that wasn’t sufficient, the person who scored one and supplied an help was none aside from Richarlison who, just a few days earlier, had been in tears on the Brazil bench.
Admitting that he wanted psychological assist, the striker rediscovered the most effective confidence booster he could want for within the dying moments final weekend.
The hope is that his look on the scoresheet will now turn out to be a extra common occasion.
He was by no means burdened with filling the void left by Harry Kane – you can not change the irreplaceable – however extra was anticipated after his £50m transfer from Everton.
But one hole Spurs have crammed this season is to discover a supervisor who appears to the manor born.
You could argue that since Mauricio Pochettino was sacked in 2019, the boss’s workplace has been as huge a chasm because the one Kane left behind.
The disparate abilities of Conte, Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espiritu Santo by no means got here close to to filling it; and nor did assistant Ryan Mason in two caretaker stints.
That’s when Spurs grew to become much more Spursy.
So, it was a giant gamble when chairman Daniel Levy opted for Celtic boss, Ange Postecoglou, to turn out to be the primary Australian to take cost within the EPL.
With his matey, no-nonsense model of man-management and tactical acumen, the Aussie has turned Spurs from a dour, counter-attacking staff beneath Conte into enjoying on the entrance foot.
In doing so, he has allowed others to maneuver out of the Kane shadow and flourish.
Forgotten man Yves Bissouma has discovered a brand new lease of life because the fulcrum of midfield, and Son Heung-min has regained his spark with the captain’s armband.
But the revelation of the season has been James Maddison whose £40m signing from Leicester appears like a snip. A pity he and Kane didn’t have longer to work collectively.
But at the least Maddison and Bissouma have and may present Spurs with a midfield: one thing they by no means actually had beneath Conte.
It will be fascinating to see if Postecoglou can get a tune out of Brennan Johnson, the brand new £40m arrival from Nottingham Forest.
Blessed with tempo and one eye on objective, he might have cautious nurturing and by no means can be described as a alternative for Kane.
But the feel-good issue obtained a jolt when Ivan Perisic broken his ACL and can be out for the season.
The skilled Croatian was a key squad member together with his versatility and can be missed.
Despite that blow, Spurs go into this sport in a lot better form than anticipated when Kane lastly left and a rookie supervisor was left in cost.
Still, they’re in all probability not on the identical stage as Arsenal who performed their greatest sport of the season in opposition to PSV.
It was an encouraging efficiency on all fronts with Gabriel Jesus getting a positive objective and Emile Smith-Rowe exhibiting he’s again to full health and kind.
And Leandro Trossard proved his worth with one other strike as he deputised for the injured Gabriel Martinelli.
Arsenal now have severe depth, not least within the goalkeeping division.
David Raya was once more given the gloves for the European tie and should be odds on to begin in opposition to Spurs.
Manager Mikel Arteta has courted controversy together with his remarks about eager to substitute his keepers previously and believes having two prime custodians is the way in which ahead.
But whether or not Aaron Ramsdale agrees is one other matter.
The England worldwide was one of many Gunners’ stars final season, and is unlikely to be content material with being second alternative – even when he does come on sometimes.
It’s an instance of Arteta’s ahead pondering and can be fascinating to see if the concept catches on.
Certainly, there’ll be quite a lot of gamers with a lot to show on Sunday (9pm Malaysia time) and in a derby ambiance, it could be feisty.
With so many various nationalities, it is usually requested if the international gamers get the significance of those native disputes.
The reply to that got here in a Rangers v Celtic sport when Martin O’Neill was boss of Celtic.
No lower than 21 of the 22 beginning gamers had been born outdoors Scotland however he known as it: “The most ferocious Old Firm sport I’ve ever seen.”
Seconds out for Sunday night time then.
The views expressed are these of the author and don’t essentially replicate these of eNM.
