In a rare sight for the north London derby, Tottenham will face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium tonight wearing their change strip.
Ange Postecoglou’s side last wore an alternate kit at their rivals’ ground in 2012. That match ended in a heavy 5-2 defeat for Spurs, who were led by Andre Villas-Boas and sported a half-black, half-grey design. Arsenal’s lineup that day featured Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla, and Jack Wilshere.
This season, Arsenal also broke tradition by wearing their black away kit during the reverse fixture at Tottenham’s stadium.
Gabriel Magalhaes’ header secured a narrow win, marking the first time Arsenal ditched their red-and-white kit for a game against Spurs since the 1985-86 season.
Tottenham’s unusual kit tonight is due to Arsenal’s current home shirt, which features an unconventional amount of white. The PGMOL and Premier League ruled the design too similar to Tottenham’s traditional white, requiring both teams to wear away strips this season.
Arsenal explained the situation in a September statement, confirming the decision for all fixtures between the two teams in the 2024-25 campaign.
Arsenal enters the derby seeking redemption after recent cup defeats to Newcastle and Manchester United. A win tonight would cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to four points, though Arsenal would have played an extra match.
In his pre-match conference, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta emphasized the significance of the derby: “It’s probably the most exciting game of the season because of the atmosphere and what it means to everyone. We want to create the best atmosphere ever seen at the Emirates.”
Arteta also highlighted the need for focus and persistence, saying, “It’s not always perfect, but what matters is how we respond the next day. That’s what we can control, and that’s our responsibility.”
With tradition set aside for practicality, both teams aim to make this clash a memorable one in the history of the north London rivalry.