Arsenal are currently 20 points ahead of Tottenham which means St Totteringham’s Day is set to make a return this season, but when will that be?
St Totteringham’s Day is a humorous yet cherished tradition among Arsenal fans.
It marks the day in the football season when it becomes mathematically impossible for their North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, to finish above Arsenal in the Premier League table.
For the Gunners, this (until recently) annual celebration represented their continuing dominance over their neighbours and is a source of fun among the fanbase.
Unfortunately, Arsenal have not had the chance to celebrate St Totteringham’s Day since the the 15/16 season, when they beat Spurs to second place by one point.
Despite being unable to win anything during the well-documented ‘power shift’ in North London, Spurs see the last seven or so years as a period of success simply because they finished above Arsenal.
Now, they don’t even have that.
Currently, Arsenal have 73 points and Tottenham 53.
With 8 games left for both sides, the maximum number of points Tottenham can earn is 8 games * 3 points = 24 points.
If Tottenham win all their remaining games, they would finish the season with 53 + 24 = 77 points.
Their goal difference, however, sits at 13 while Arsenal’s is 43.
To ensure St Totteringham’s Day, Arsenal need to secure enough points so that their total is greater than or equal to 78 points (or 77 if you want to go on goal difference).
Arsenal currently have 73 points and simply need 5 more points to reach 78.
They can achieve this in two ways:
- By winning two games (6 points) or,
- By winning one game and drawing two games (5 points).
Arsenal’s next two games are against West Ham and Southampton, both matches the Gunners will expect to win.
Arsenal play Southampton on 21 April, meaning that could well be St. Totteringham’s Day.
That, of course, assumes Spurs don’t drop points in their next home game against Bournemouth.
Arsenal play before Spurs travel to Newcastle the following weekend, meaning St Totteringham’s Day could already be sealed by the time Tottenham kick-off at St. James’ Park on 22 April.
History of St Totteringham’s Day
The origin of St Totteringham’s Day can be traced back to the 2001-2002 season when Arsenal fans coined the term as a light-hearted way to mock their rivals.
Over the years, the tradition has grown in significance, and Arsenal supporters eagerly await the day they can celebrate another year of finishing above Tottenham.
Arsenal’s dominance in North London
For many years, Arsenal enjoyed a significant advantage over their neighbours, consistently finishing above Tottenham in the league table.
From the early 90s to the mid-2010s, Arsenal were the dominant force in North London, boasting a squad filled with world-class talent and winning multiple league titles and domestic cups.
During these years, St Totteringham’s Day was an almost guaranteed annual event for Arsenal fans, who took great pleasure in their superiority over Tottenham.
This period also coincided with the reign of legendary Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, whose stylish and attacking football earned the club numerous plaudits and accolades.
A shift in power?
In recent years, Tottenham Hotspur have significantly closed the gap, assembling a competitive squad as Arsenal entered something of a period of crisis.
They have managed to finish above Arsenal on several occasions, cancelling St Totteringham’s Day celebrations for six seasons.
This shift in power intensified the rivalry between the two clubs, with both sets of supporters even more eager to claim bragging rights over the other.
Despite the improved fortunes of Tottenham, Arsenal fans always remained optimistic that their team would continue to have the upper hand in the long run.
St Totteringham’s Day in the modern era
With the ever-changing landscape of the Premier League and the intense competition among the top clubs, St Totteringham’s Day has taken on a new level of significance.
As both Arsenal and Tottenham strive to secure Champions League spots, the day serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted rivalry between the two clubs.
In the age of social media, St Totteringham’s Day has become even more prominent, as fans on both sides take to Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms to engage in ‘banter’ and celebrate their team’s triumphs.
While St Totteringham’s Day may be a light-hearted and humorous tradition, it encapsulates the passion and rivalry that exists between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
As the Premier League continues to evolve and the competition grows fiercer, the importance of finishing above one’s rivals remains as strong as ever.
For Arsenal fans, the annual celebration of St Totteringham’s Day serves as a reminder of the club’s historical dominance in North London and a source of hope that the Gunners will continue to come out on top in this fierce rivalry.