5 Great Arsenal Moments vs. Tottenham in Cup Competitions

This week, Arsenal travel to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham in the Capital One Cup. North London derbies are always big occasions, but the tension is heightened by the excitement of a knock-out competition. In such games, the stakes are even higher.

In this piece, we look back at five fantastic Arsenal memories from encounters against Spurs in the domestic cups.

They are ranked according to how positive a part they played in the history of Arsenal’s enduring battle with Tottenham: did they deliver a crushing blow to their local enemy? Did they enable the Gunners to go on and lift a trophy? Or did they simply afford Arsenal fans an opportunity to laugh at their neighbourly nemesis?

Read on to discover five great moments from Arsenal’s cup clashes with Spurs.

5. 1949 Third-Round Thrashing

Back in 1949, Arsenal faced Tottenham in the third round of the FA Cup. The Gunners were the league champions, and thus favourites to go through to the next round. However, few could have anticipated the crushing nature of the victory.

Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Ian McPherson, Don Roper and Doug Lishman.

Even though Spurs were the underdogs here, this thumping will still have hurt them and subsequently lived long in the memories of the Gunners fans fortunate enough to have been present that day.

4. Theo Walcott on the Stretcher

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Some of the derby moments that become most iconic do not even occur when the ball is in play.

In January 2014, Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners against Tottenham in another FA Cup third-round clash. However, the most memorable minutes of the game occurred when Theo Walcott received treatment for what proved to be a serious knee ligament injury.

As he departed from the field on a stretcher, Walcott held up two fingers to the Spurs fans, indicating the scoreline by which the Gunners led. The Tottenham supporters were furious; the Arsenal fans elated.

The stretcher-bound signal is destined to go down in Gunners folklore.

Arsenal Reach the FA Cup Final in 2001

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Although there has never been a cup final between Arsenal and Tottenham, there have been several semi-finals.

This one in 2001 saw the Gunners run out 2-1 winners at Old Trafford, Manchester, thanks to goals from the French midfield pair of Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires.

The repercussions of this match ran deeper than seeing Arsenal through to a Wembley final: it may also have been the moment that convinced Sol Campbell to cross the north London divide.

Injured before the end of the game, this would prove to be his last Tottenham appearance before announcing his decision to join Arsenal.

It might be the case that seeing Arsenal triumph over his own team is what made him believe he had to jump ship to achieve the success he craved.

2. David Rocastle's Late Winner

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Although the story of David Rocastle is one laced with tragedy, he also provided the Arsenal fans with some golden moments.

They will look back particularly fondly on his contribution to the north London derby of March 1987.

Arsenal were competing with Spurs in the League Cup semi-final, but could not be separated after two legs, meaning a replay was required with the venue decided in Spurs' favour by the toss of a coin, per the official Arsenal website.

Although Clive Allen gave Tottenham the lead at White Hart Lane, substitute Ian Allinson brought the Gunners level. With just 10 minutes left to play, it was Rocastle who stepped up to snatch the winner.

Charlie Nicholas scored twice in the final against Liverpool to give George Graham his first silverware as Arsenal manager.

To compound Spurs' misery, they went on to lose the FA Cup final later that season against rank-outsiders Coventry City.

Tony Adams Nods Arsenal into the FA Cup Final

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In April 1993, Arsenal beat Tottenham at Wembley to reach the FA Cup Final.

Rather fittingly, the goal came from Mr. Arsenal himself: Tony Adams. The man who is now immortalised in bronze outside the Emirates Stadium rose to head home Paul Merson's 80th-minute free-kick and lead the Gunners to victory.

Arsenal went on to win the final by beating Sheffield Wednesday in a replay and claim a historic cup double.