Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld has revealed that during his time at the club, he considered Chelsea to be their main rivals rather than Arsenal. The Belgian, who made 236 appearances for Spurs over six years, opened up about the intense rivalry that peaked during the infamous 'Battle of the Bridge' in 2016.
Alderweireld's Perspective on Rivalry
Speaking to The Times, Alderweireld explained that Tottenham's consistent superiority over Arsenal at the time shifted his focus. "At that time we were always above Arsenal so for me that was not really the rivalry, it was much more Chelsea," he said. The 2016 clash at Stamford Bridge saw Tottenham's title hopes dashed in a heated 2-2 draw, with nine yellow cards shown to Spurs players. Alderweireld recalled it as the "craziest" game he ever played, adding, "With VAR you wouldn't get a game like that now. Maybe I'm a nostalgic guy, but that was the beauty of no VAR."
Contrasting Fortunes for North London Clubs
Fast forward to 2026, and the tables have turned dramatically. Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions after Manchester City's draw with Bournemouth, while Tottenham face a final-day battle to avoid relegation. Spurs need at least a point against Everton to secure their top-flight status. Meanwhile, Arsenal have the chance to add the Champions League title to their domestic success, facing Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
The 'Battle of the Bridge' remains a defining moment in Premier League history, with Alderweireld reminiscing about the raw intensity of the match. "You could feel the game from the first duel, the first foul, it's like 'Oh that was a nasty one'. Straight away," he said. The 37-year-old, now retired, also noted he was the only Spurs outfield player not to receive a yellow card that night.
