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12 Quirky big dates for Tottenham Hotspur and six opponents

By Aaron Coe

Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane (R) celebrates with Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (L) after scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on March 7, 2021. (Photo by Julian Finney / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JULIAN FINNEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane (R) celebrates with Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (L) after scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on March 7, 2021. (Photo by Julian Finney / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JULIAN FINNEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Tottenham, Ndombele not being fouled
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 14: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal battles for possession with Tanguy Ndombele of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on March 14, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Nick Potts – Pool/Getty Images) /

The Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal double feature

First comes the back-to-back games in September. On the 18th Spurs host Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and then travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal the following weekend in the North London Derby.

The game against the Gunners will actually be the third straight London derby for Spurs with a trip across town to Crystal Palace the game immediately preceeding Chelsea in the EPL.

FIxture congestion part of the first match-ups in London

Making those matches against Chelsea and Arsenal more difficult could be three-midweek affairs sandwiching those two games. Matchday 1 of the UEFA Europa Conference League is supposed to be September 16, meaning Spurs will play a Thursday-Saturday against Chelsea.

In between those two will come entry into the Carabao Cup third round and matchday 2 of the Conference League is immediately after the Arsenal game. As we saw this past season, early fixture congestion will just be part of life for Spurs and Chelsea, but not so much for the Gunners.

Done with derbies early?

While there are more derbies on the schedule than Chelsea and Arsenal for Spurs they are clearly the two most critical. Tottenham plays Arsenal and Chelsea again back-to-back in January. In the two weeks between the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg and the first International break of 2022, Spurs host Arsenal and then travel to Stamford Bridge.

With a lot less congestion and potentially some major rest for one or even all three teams in January, these matches should be no holds barred. The dates in September and January need to be circled on the calendar as the team that wins the majority of those four games is likely to rule London and have the upper hand in the table.

While geographic bragging rights are not an issue with the next pair of teams, positioning in the top half will be.

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