‘This will be something special’ - 10 legends talk NLD

As one of the biggest north London derbies of recent years fast approaches - 7.45pm kick-off tonight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - we spoke to the players who really know what this game is all about.

Ten legends spanning 35 years and over 3,000 appearances for our great Club - with a whole host of derby experiences between them, joy and pain, delight and despair - gave us their views on this huge Premier League clash, and listed their favourite derby moment...

Clive Allen

135 appearances/84 goals - 1984-1988 - scored four goals v Arsenal...

“This is massive, with what’s at stake, not just the derby itself but the prize both teams are fighting for. It’s as big as it’s been for a long time. You have a young-ish Arsenal side in good form, they’ll come full of confidence, I’m interested to see how they play. I’m not sure they’re a team who will sit in. I’m sure they’d be happy with a point, but I don’t believe that’s their best way of playing. I fancy our chances. It’s must-win for us, no doubt about that, and that’s how we have to approach it.”

Favourite derby moment: “That’s a tricky one. I’d go for scoring the winner in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at Highbury in 1986/87. Again, that was a massive game, gave us an advantage over the tie, the second leg ended 2-1 and we ended up playing a third game. We were in front until six minutes from the end, when they scored twice. The joy of scoring the winner at Highbury in the first leg turned to despair of losing that third tie. Crazy.”

Darren Anderton

358 appearances/48 goals - 1992-2004 - scored twice at Highbury, 10 years apart...

“It’s always a huge game, always the first one I looked for, but with so much at stake... it’s massive. We were going along so nicely until Brighton and Brentford, thankfully, bounced back against Leicester and Liverpool, and we were unlucky not to win at Anfield, that would have been lovely. Credit to them, they’ve come on a run after it looked like they were having a sticky moment. We’re at home, great, that’s the best atmosphere for us to play in and I’m sure the intensity will go up a notch as well. We most certainly have the players and ability to get the result. It could come down to who defends better on the day, because we certainly have the players in Harry, Sonny and Kulusevski, who can unlock any team. This one’s all about the result - this game always is, anyway.”

Favourite derby moment: “The goal at Highbury in 1993, where I ran from halfway, Tony Adams trying to chase me after a little bit of magic from Micky Hazard and a flick from Jason Dozzell, then a one-on-one against David Seaman, who I knew well. I guess that’s my highlight, with a cheeky little celebration in front of the North Bank!”

Michael Dawson

324 appearances/10 goals - 2005-2014 - played in 5-1 League Cup semi-final win, 2008 and a huge win in 2010...

“I can’t wait for this one - the same as every Spurs fan, every Arsenal fan and every neutral. These are the times you have to stand up and be counted. It’s also the time I start to miss playing football! This is the business end, the excitement. We know what this derby means to everyone and the magnitude of this one... we know what we have to do. Arsenal come to our stadium, first time a full house for a derby, the place will be rocking, and we know what these nights can bring - special memories. We’ve seen what this team can do in big games - City, Liverpool - and Antonio will have the players ready for it.”

Favourite derby moment: “It has to be the 5-1 in the semi-final of the League Cup in 2008. People ask me for my favourite moment in a Spurs shirt, well, beating them at any time, but 5-1 in a semi-final, White Hart Lane was bouncing when we went 1-0 up. One of my first derbies was the last one at Highbury, 1-1 in 2006. That was another big one, Keano scored, and we were on the up.”

Mark Falco

236 appearances/89 goals - 1979-1986 - scored one of the great NLD goals in 1983, and the winner at Highbury in 1985...

“These games are always tense, but I think we’ll be fine. Antonio Conte has got us playing well, the players believe in him and are working hard for him, and I can see us doing it. I’m not just saying that because I’m a Spurs fan, I genuinely believe we have the talent to do it with the manager and the players. We want to play in the Champions League, and if we can get there ahead of our rivals, even better.”

Favourite derby moment: “The volley in the 5-0 win in April, 1983. That was special, because I they’d actually beaten us by the same scoreline at the Lane a couple of seasons earlier (December, 1978), it was good to get that payback and contribute with one of my best goals at Spurs.  Also, scoring the winner in front of the North Bank to take us to the top of the league on New Year’s Day in 1985.”

Micky Hazard

170 appearances/25 goals - 1980-1994 - scored on his NLD debut at Highbury in 1982...

“The north London derby is one of the greatest games you’ll ever have the pleasure to play in. This one will be something special. It’s like playing in a cup final, the anticipation, the status of the game, the atmosphere on the day... it’s an amazing game to play in, an amazing game to win. However, as a fan and a former player, it’s the worst! I can’t bear the thought of losing. Now it’s here, I’m so excited. Am I nervous? Yes. It’s not just the derby, there’s even more on this one. Fingers crossed, it will go our way. For sure, we’ve got the players to do it. I came through the youth team, so from the age of 14, the importance of this game was drilled into me. I’m sure the stadium will be a cauldron of noise, and the players will tap into that.”

Favourite derby moment: “I has to be my first north London derby, April 1982, I scored an incredible goal - I beat three men and stuck one in the corner from 25 yards. We won 3-1 that day, I also made two goals and was Man of the Match. That’s hard to beat. Towards the end of my career, 1993, I got Man of the Match again at Highbury when we drew 1-1, Darren Anderton scored. I’ve great memories of the NLD, but that first one takes some beating.”

David Howells

335 appearances/27 goals - 1986-1998 - played in 1991 FA Cup semi-final win at Wembley...

“The derby is a massive game under any circumstances. The motivation is always the fear of losing and the glory of winning. This game, with what’s at stake, for them, it’s Champions League qualification if they beat us. Our carrot is obviously to keep the race going and see if they drop points in their last two games. The last thing we want is them winning and celebrating Champions League qualification on our patch. That will drive us on and give us that strength to get the right result. I don’t think we’ll change too much, we’re in good form and Saturday at Anfield was a really strong team performance, showing that desire to get into the top four. I see it being cagey, but there needs to be an intensity about everything we do.”

Favourite derby moment: “At White Hart Lane, the 1-0 win, Gica Popescu on target. Obviously, Wembley 1991 is the ultimate, but that one in 1995 was a proper, proper north London derby, Monday night, live on Sky, just a brilliant atmosphere. Any time we beat them it’s amazing, even going back to youth team days. I remember Chris Armstrong getting the winner the next season, Paul Allen scoring the winner in 1992, I was lucky enough to beat them plenty of times, especially at home, and each one was so sweet!”

Tom Huddlestone

209 appearances/15 goals - 2006-2013 - played in 5-1 League Cup semi-final win in 2008, scored in 3-3 draw in 2011...

“In the last few weeks, Arsenal have put themselves in pole position, but looking at the fixtures, I still think we’re well capable of finishing fourth. If we can get the win, Arsenal have to go to Newcastle, one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League since Christmas, plus Everton on the last day, so it’s going to be interesting. It just feels like everything is riding on Thursday night - win that, plus hopefully six points against Burnley and Norwich, and personally, I think that will be enough. The big one on the night is what a lot of managers would say, ‘don’t have regrets’. After 90 minutes, don’t come back inside feeling you could have done more, leave everything out there, that’s the main thing.”

Favourite derby moment: “For me, scoring in 2011, but that game finished 3-3, so beating them 5-1 in the semi-final of the League Cup has to be the one. Arsenal had been the better side throughout my time, they were favourites, but we’d started to turn it around and that was an incredible night.”

Robbie Keane

306 appearances/122 goals - 2002-2011 - scored last-ever Spurs goal at Highbury, scored in 5-1 League Cup semi-final win in 2008...

“It’s one of, arguably the biggest game of the season in terms of where the teams are in the Premier League. I think we’re going in as favourites with that experience we have in the team but, to be fair, Arsenal have done well this season. I just think Harry and Sonny have a chance against that Arsenal defence. These are the games, as a player, I always wanted to be involved in. It was always the first fixture I looked out for. There is so much riding on this one. I’m really looking forward to it and, hopefully, we can get the win.”

Favourite derby moment: “The 5-1 was special, but to be the last Spurs player to score at Highbury, with all the history of this game, yes, I’ll take that one. That was another huge game, by the way. It always is.”

Ledley King

323 appearances/14 goals - 1999-2012 - captain in the 5-1 win in the League Cup semi-final in 2008, scored two NLD goals...

“It’s a must-win game for us, and that’s the approach we’ll take into the game. Ever since the fixture was rescheduled, I knew the importance of it and thought we’d win, and with our fans driving the team on, my thoughts haven’t changed at all. It’s a game I’m really looking forward to. I’ve always felt when we played Arsenal at home that we have a great chance of beating them, and the recent record (eight wins, one loss in the last 13 at home in the Premier League) backs that up.”

Favourite derby moment: “Obviously the 5-1 in the semi-final in 2008, that stands out, then the Danny Rose goal in the 2-1 in 2010. That was my first win against them in the Premier League. What a goal that was!”

Gary Mabbutt

611 appearances/38 goals -1982-1998 - most NLD appearances for Spurs (32 including Charity Shield), captain of 1991 FA Cup semi-final-winning team...

“We always look back to the first-ever Spurs-Arsenal FA Cup semi-final, the first-ever semi-final to be played at Wembley. It was massive for the players and the supporters. Arsenal were heading for the title and going for the double, but we completely outplayed them on the day. I believe as long as we don’t lose, we’ll get that top-four place and be in the Champions League next season - everything is there for the taking. Of course, it’s a massive game and we have a great opportunity.”

Favourite derby moment: “It has to be the FA Cup semi-final... the first-ever FA Cup semi-final between the clubs, to stop them getting the double, to get to the final and win the FA Cup – what more needs to be said?”