What is St. Totteringham’s Day? What do Arsenal need to ensure it against Spurs?

The Gunners and Spurs have one of the fiercest rivalries in the Premier League, which Mikel Arteta’s team can still win this season.

Arsenal still harbour hopes of winning their first Premier League title since 2003/04, although their recent home defeat to Aston Villa has given Manchester City the upper hand in the race for top spot. A victory away to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday is almost a must for Mikel Arteta’s side, who hold a one-point lead but have played a game more. And it would also ensure St. Totteringham’s Day takes place for the second year running.

Spurs vs Arsenal: which team has won more major trophies?

The rivalry between the Gunners and Spurs is one of the fiercest in the Premier League, and has arguably been ramped up in the last decade or so, in which Tottenham have turned themselves into semi-regular top-four contenders. That, however, was far from always being the case.

Even the most ardent Spurs fan can’t deny that Arsenal have enjoyed far greater success throughout their history. Tottenham have won two European trophies to the Gunners’ one and four League Cups to two, but Arsenal handsomely lead the way in terms of league titles (13-2) and FA Cups (14-8), which will undoubtedly have led to jealous glances across the north of the city.

Gunners’ dominance leads to St. Totteringham’s Day

Such was their superiority, in the 2000s, Arsenal fans invented the brilliantly condescending concept of St. Totteringham’s Day, a celebration of when it became mathematically impossible for Tottenham to finish above them in the Premier League, something which didn’t happen for a period of 22 years up between 1995 and 2017.

By then, however, Spurs had become something a force to be reckoned with, regularly qualifying for European competitions, which rarely happened in the 1990s and early 2000s. They had the upper hand over their rivals in terms of league positions for six seasons in a row until last year, when Arsenal finished as runners-up to City and Tottenham finished eighth, 24 points worse off.

Spurs must beat Arsenal to avoid St. Totteringham’s Day

And although The Gunners’ main focus will be keeping their title hopes alive, a win or a draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday would ensure St. Totteringham’s Day is on the calendar for a second year in succession.

Arsenal are currently 17 points better off their North London foes, who have 18 points left to play for so it is, admittedly, only a matter of time.

However, there is no margin for error for Ange Postecoglu’s team, who look likely to finish fourth or fifth, if they want to avoid their rivals confirming this season’s bragging rights in their own back yard.