15th October 1963 Arsenal and Tottenham Draw 4 – 4 at Highbury

It is not a common scoreline in matches between Tottenham and Arsenal but on three occasions in five years the north London derby ended 4 – 4. The first time was in February, 1958 at Highbury and then in October, 1962 the score was repeated at White Hart Lane. Twelve months on the teams again shared eight goals at Highbury. The only other occasion when the match has ended with a similar score was in October, 2008 at The Emirates in Harry Redknapp’s first match as manager when Aaron Lennon scored an added time equaliser.

15th October, 1963

Arsenal 4  Tottenham Hotspur 4

Scorers: Eastham (2), Baker, Strong       Greaves, Smith (2), Mackay

The match was played on a Tuesday evening because of the previous weekend’s International games. Spurs and Arsenal had both started the season well with Spurs second and Arsenal a point behind in sixth. It was an exciting and ‘storming’ game that entertained for ninety minutes. Spurs were 4-2 ahead at the interval with goals from Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Smith (2) and Dave Mackay. Greaves and Smith put Spurs two ahead before Eastham scored from the penalty. Mackay restored the two goal advantage only for Eastham to get his second. Smith then scored his second and Tottenham’s fourth before the interval.

Dave Mackay

Arsenal, however, showed never-say-die spirit and battled to the end although they had been assisted by two refereeing decisions in the first half that probably robbed Spurs of the points. The referee awarded a harsh penalty when Spurs were two up and then disallowed a goal which would have made the score 4-1, a minute before Arsenal made it 3-2.

With five minutes remaining Spurs still held the two goal lead acquired by half-time but Arsenal pulled one back through Baker and then equalised with a header from Strong at a corner with only twenty seconds of injury time remaining.

The point was sufficient to take Tottenham to the top of the 1st Division but as a newspaper report of the day said, ‘Spurs were robbed!’

Team: Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay; Jones, White, Smith, Greaves, Dyson.