Tottenham vs. Arsenal: A personal reflection from inside the Lane on derby day

As a devout Spurs fan, visits to the Lane don’t come much sweeter than the last North London derby.

Before the game, and on paper, it had all the makings of a textbook Tottenham win. In tremendous form, apart from a minor slip up in the FA Cup semi-final, we are the best home team in league by a long shot.

Things at the Emirates, however, were trending in completely the opposite direction. The attitude and performances from certain players have recently outraged Gunners supporters, and manager Arsene Wenger’s future is still hanging in the balance.

However, Spurs supporters know none of that matters on derby day. It’s the performance on the day that matters most.

Emerging from Seven Sisters Tube Station and one thing was clear. This wasn’t any ordinary North London derby. The sheer amount of police vans, sniffer dogs and helicopters were all quickly put to work as rival fans were in full force marching down Tottenham High Road.

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Tempers were short and that didn’t change as we arrived at the ground. Sitting in the South Upper Stand, only a metal fence and a couple of stewards separated hundreds of Spurs and Arsenal fans, as we roared our signature songs toward Gunners’ faithful.

A scoreless first half definitely wasn’t without action and incident. Heung-Min Son made a darting run down the left wing, beating Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with ease. He cut inside and delivered the ball into the box. Dropping favourably on to Christian Eriksen’s boot, the chance, with Petr Cech at his mercy, looked harder to miss.

The Dane’s shot clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. Was it going to be another one of those days for us Lilywhites?

It didn’t take long for Spurs to break the halftime deadlock. Dele Alli pounced on a loose ball and Harry Kane won a penalty which he made good on just 75 seconds later. White Hart Lane erupted. The exuberant, lively crowd were incessant in ensuring Arsenal knew exactly what this match meant (not like they needed reminding). Everyone was in full voice for the duration, the electric atmosphere sending shivers down my spine.

Spurs used to concede leads more often than I’d like to remember. But not anymore. The aura in the Lane was indescribable, and it spurred the team on to control the rest of the game, easily seeing off a listless Arsenal team.

Next: Tottenham teach Gunners lesson in last derby at the Lane

Many Spurs fans stayed in the ground long after the final whistle had been blown, singing joyously, thoroughly enjoying every moment we’ve waited so long for.

We had all witnessed something special, a changed team under the ‘magic’ Mauricio Pochettino. There will be no ‘St Totteringham’s Day’ this year.

White Hart Lane and it’s one-of-a-kind atmosphere will be sorely missed. But the most important thing is that North London is rightfully white once more.

And I’d like to think that will be the case for many seasons to come.