Fate has aligned itself. Eight years later, on the exact day Chelsea spoiled Tottenham’s Premier League title challenge under Mauricio Pochettino, the two sides meet again.

The Battle of the Bridge, as it has since been dubbed due to its fiery nature, 29 fouls, and 12 yellow cards – nine for Spurs – is a classic of recent times. It featured a relative underdog, though not the ultimate underdog, as that was understandably Leicester City, the reigning champions, some meaty tackles, plenty of drama, a comeback, and a late goal.

On any normal day, it would have been enough to be remembered for years regardless. That it meant Tottenham couldn’t win the league, handing Claudio Ranieri the most unexpected title in recent history, was simply a bonus to get the atmosphere cranked up that bit more.

“I remember it really well,” Mauricio Pochettino reflected before the latest installment of Chelsea vs Tottenham. “My memory is good. It was a really tough game, a difficult night. We needed to win and Chelsea were an experienced team. I remember they had [Cesc] Fabregas, [Eden] Hazard – what a team, no?


“They were not doing a fantastic season but in that one game, they competed well because they knew how to compete. It was a battle because we wanted to win and we were very competitive.

“Sometimes we crossed the line and it was a really difficult moment but it shows you how competitive we were with Tottenham and that is why a few years after we were in the final of the Champions League because we were a very competitive team.”

For Arsenal, the best chance of seeing Tottenham take any points off City will be to have their own hopes to play for. A team fighting for something is a tougher test than one ‘on the beach’, after all.

Victory for Tottenham in SW6 wouldn’t exactly turn things in their favour – the gap to Villa in fourth is currently seven points, though there are two games in hand – but it would keep things alive. Unai Emery’s side have a horribly out-of-form Brighton to play, as well as the newly ragged Liverpool and mid-table Crystal Palace left to face.

Arsenal need as much to be riding on the Tottenham vs Manchester City clash as possible. The best way for things to be at their most lively and tense would be with Champions League hopes at stake.

There is still a question of just how Spurs fans would feel during the game themselves as they both fight to achieve their own aspirations, but at the cost of possibly strengthening the title chances of a hated foe. That is a bridge to be crossed further down the line.

For now, Arsenal will be urging Tottenham to follow their lead and beat Chelsea. Then attention can turn to just how things might look against City five days later.