Sunday’s North London derby promises to be one of the biggest in recent memory, with both clubs still having plenty left to play for.
As if the rivalry alone wasn’t enough, Arsenal are still firmly in the hunt for their first league title in 20 years, while Tottenham are hoping to lift Aston Villa into fourth and final Champions League place.
There is expected to be a red-hot atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it could depend on which of the two young teams can keep their heads under pressure.
Ange Postecoglou and Mikel Arteta will hope to rely on experienced players such as Son Heung-min and Martin Odegaard to lead by example, as both have featured in numerous derbies over the years for their respective clubs.
But not everyone who has played in a north London derby has had that luxury. In September 2010, a Spurs player made his debut against Arsenal and it didn’t go to plan.
The former footballer (right) played only one game for Tottenham and conceded four goals against Arsenal in September 2010. Here he attended a Coaches Forum alongside Croatian legend Ivica Olic (left) and FIFA president Gianni Infantino ( second on the right) last year.
He is now technical director of the Croatian Football Federation and works alongside the national team’s technical director, Zlatko Dalic (right).
Having signed on loan from Russian club Spartak Moscow the previous month, Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa received his Tottenham nod as Harry Redknapp’s men faced the Gunners in the third round of the League Cup at White Hart Lane .
Spurs fell behind to a Henri Lansbury goal inside 15 minutes, but Robbie Keane equalized shortly after the break to force extra time.
However, it all went wrong for Tottenham and Pletikosa in those extra 30 minutes as they conceded three times to end up losing 4-1.
Samir Nasri scored two penalties in three minutes, before Andrey Arshavin secured victory for Arsene Wenger’s side.
It was a debut to forget for Pletikosa, who was then 31 years old and never had the chance to make amends.
That’s right, Pletikosa was not chosen to play for Tottenham for the rest of the season before returning to Russia in the summer of 2011.
Stipe Pletikosa (pictured) was never given the chance to make amends for his disastrous Tottenham debut against Arsenal.
Pletikosa photographed during the match against Arsenal in the Carling Cup in September 2010.
Harry Redknapp preferred Heurelho Gomes to Pletikosa in goal at the time
Redknapp preferred Heurelho Gomes and did not give Pletikosa another chance to prove himself before he was sacked.
Spartak decided they didn’t like him either and allowed Pletikosa to move to Russian club Rostov in 2011, where he stayed for four years.
The goalkeeper then spent six months on the sidelines before joining Spanish side Deportivo La Coruña on a short-term contract before his retirement in 2016.
His playing days may have come to a rather disappointing end, but Pletikosa had a career to be proud of, having represented Croatia 114 times.
He made his international debut in 1999, a few days after turning 20, and played for Croatia in three World Cups.
Pletikosa was also in goal in Croatia’s famous 3-2 victory over England at Wembley in 2007, which denied the Three Lions a place at Euro 2008.
That match turned out to be Steve McClaren’s last in charge, while Pletikosa’s counterpart Scott Carson also had a night to forget when he let Nico Kranjcar’s long-range shot slip through his hands and into the net in the first half.
Pletikosa may have gotten a taste of how Carson felt that night when he made his Tottenham debut three years later, when he was left knocking the ball out of his net on four occasions.
There will be no such baptism of fire this weekend when Tottenham and Arsenal meet once again, with Guglielmo Vicario and David Raya between the sticks, both having enjoyed strong initial campaigns at their respective clubs.
Pletikosa was in goal for Croatia the night they beat England 3-2 at Wembley in 2007.
Steve McClaren was sacked after that match because England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Pletikosa’s counterpart Scott Carson had a night to forget when he failed to stop a long-range shot from Nico Kranjcar.
Guglielmo Vicario (left) and David Raya (right) will not want to emulate Pletikosa’s disastrous debut in the north London derby this weekend
Meanwhile, Pletikosa may be watching from afar, having remained in football since hanging up his boots.
He currently holds the position of technical director of the Croatian Football Federation, overseeing the senior team and the under-21 team.
The role sees him work closely with national team coach Zlatko Dalic, who hopes to lead Croatia to the latter stages of another major tournament at this summer’s Euros.
Dalic has been in charge since 2017 and led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, before finishing third at the following World Cup in Qatar four years later.
Pletikosa has been with him every step of the way to Croatia’s rise and has also represented his nation at global summits, having attended a Coaches Forum alongside Croatian legend Ivica Olic and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the last year.
Pletikosa, now 45, remains a popular figure in his homeland, but can you remember him from his brief stay in England?
