What is St. Totteringham’s Day? Arsenal to finish above Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League

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 was almost a must for Mikel Arteta’s side, who are ahead of Pep Guardiola’s team but have played more games. And it also ensures 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.

Arsenal beat Spurs to confirm St. Totteringham’s Day

And although The Gunners’ main focus was on keeping their title hopes alive, the 3-2 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday ensured St. Totteringham’s Day is on the calendar for a second year in succession.

Arsenal are now 20 points better off their North London foes, who have only 15 points left to play for so it.

With local bragging rights now secured, can The Gunners now to pip City to the Premier League title? Arteta’s men will be reliant on the reigning champions dropping points somewhere along the line, and will, ironically enough, be hoping Spurs can stop Guardiola, Haaland and Co in North London on 14 May...