The day the North London Derby defined the league
The derby is one of the most important in England, but on April 25 2004 it was also the league definer
Arsenal and Tottenham are set to write another chapter of their storied rivalry, but perhaps the most important was written some 18 years ago. As Mikel Arteta's side prepares to host Antonio Conte's team, both sets of fans are surely aware that the North London Derby can be a league-defining fixture. Never was that a bigger case than during the 2003-04 season.
The day was April 25, 2004 and the Gunners arrived to matchday 34 as league leaders, while their rivals languished in the bottom of midtable. Arsenal knew going into their away game at Tottenham that a draw would secure their title, as Chelsea had failed get all three points in their last two games.
Arsene Wenger's squad was flying after their iconic 4-2 comeback against Liverpool, and it's Thierry Henry who is leading the team. However, Arsenal were asked not to make trouble should they secure the title. "Before the game the police came and said, 'Do not celebrate if you win the title, we don't want to create chaos. If you score, don't run to the stand, we don't want any trouble. Be nice'", Henry recalled of the moments before the match.
Arsenal start on a roll, getting the lead just three minutes in with a Patrick Vieira counter attacking goal, then just after the 30th minute mark the Arsenal captain cut back the ball after receiving it from Bergkamp, allowing Pires to sidefoot it for 2-0.
Thierry Henry had already riled Tottenham fans up with his iconic celebration the prior, so the police was eager to stop any chaos, but they never told the Tottenham players
However, the must have forgotten to give the same no-celebration warnings to the Tottenham squad, who battled to come back in the second half, eager to spoil the party. When Robbie Keane made it 2-2 through a penalty conversion, mayhem unleashed among the Spurs players.
Tottenham full back Mauricio Taricco went crazy after the home team managed to level the score and that triggered the Arsenal players. "I remember Taricco jumping around and celebrating", called Henry to mind, "Celebrating a draw. I looked at him. 'Are you kidding me?' And he went 'Yeeeahh!''. I said: 'You realize we needed a point to be champions. At your place'. If you act strong, be strong at the end. It's the rivalry, and we all understood what was at stake. But it was too hard for me to see them celebrating a draw when we're champions at their place. 'OK. I guess we can celebrate, too. Now I am going to celebrate with my fans'".
Arsenal did indeed celebrate. After the majority of the Tottenham supporters have left the party really gets going. The 2003-04 champions returned to the field to celebrate their victory in front of the away fans who had gone to the match.
An inflatable Premier League trophy appeared and players celebrated with it like it was the actual one. "One by one, roared on by the fans, each player held it up in the air with both hands as if it was the real thing", recalled Ashley Cole. "Then came my turn. I was the last one to do it. That's when the thought came to me: go and plonk this trophy slap bang at the heart of White Hart Lane. I ran, pelting across the pitch. Thierry and Ray Parlour followed. I got to the centre spot. I raised the trophy high above my head and brought it down like I was sinking a flag into enemy territory. It was like someone scored a goal. The Arsenal fans went crazy. It was the best moment".
Arsenal's inflatable Premier League trophy was an excellent proxy for the real silverware
Of course, Arsenal would lift the real Premier League trophy some three weeks later, after also having completed a much harder and more unique achievement: winning the English league undefeated. However, winning it at White Hart Lane was still important. "It was intense", added right back Lauren, "The happiness, when you win the league against your biggest rivals, we were just over the moon. We did at the time things that will stay there for ever".
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