When it comes to football rivalries in London, a few stand out above the rest. While Tottenham Hotspur’s fiercest battles have traditionally been reserved for North London foes Arsenal, and West Ham United have long been at odds with Millwall, there is no denying the intensity that defines meetings between Spurs and the Hammers. Their clashes are always heated, and both sets of fans view the fixture as one of the most important of the season.
The animosity between the two clubs has produced some unforgettable moments in recent years, and the last encounter was no exception. In their most recent Premier League meeting, West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus was shown a red card after raising his hands to both Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven and Pape Sarr. The incident, which occurred at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, resulted in Kudus receiving a five-match suspension. Spurs capitalized on the situation and secured a dominant 4-1 victory over their London rivals.
A Battle for Mid-Table Supremacy
Beyond the on-pitch feuds, Tottenham and West Ham find themselves in a similar position in the Premier League table this season. Heading into the latest round of fixtures, Spurs occupied 13th place, while West Ham sat two spots below in 15th. However, the Hammers closed the gap on Thursday night with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, bringing them level on points with Tottenham.
The win over the Foxes was a crucial one for West Ham, and Tomas Soucek, who got on the scoresheet, made it clear that his team has ambitions beyond simply surviving in mid-table. In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, the Czech midfielder emphasized that the Hammers want to finish as high as possible and challenge clubs like Tottenham and Manchester United in the standings.
Tomas Soucek: “We Want to Be Better Than Tottenham”
Soucek acknowledged that the transition under new manager Graham Potter has not been easy, but he believes West Ham are heading in the right direction. After two strong performances, he expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete with top clubs, while also recognizing how important the rivalry with Tottenham is for the Hammers’ supporters.
“It’s tough to have this big impact in the half of the season, but in these last two games, we showed good spirit, good team effort,” Soucek said, as transcribed by BBC Sport. “The first half was a very good performance, in the second we made a few mistakes but still won 2-0, which was a great result.”
The midfielder went on to stress that West Ham want to establish themselves as a competitive force, rather than simply a mid-table side.
“We know that the season is tough, but we just want to stay as high as possible. We know we can challenge some big teams,” he continued. “Manchester United, Tottenham—they are around us. Even for West Ham fans, it’s a big derby with Tottenham, so we want to be better than them.”
His words highlight the determination within the West Ham squad to not only finish ahead of Spurs but also solidify their place as one of London’s top clubs.
Mark Noble on West Ham’s Tottenham Rivalry: “We’ve Always Got to Beat Spurs”
Tomas Soucek’s comments about the importance of finishing above Tottenham echo the sentiments of a true West Ham legend—Mark Noble. The former captain, now the club’s director of football, has long spoken about the rivalry between the two clubs and the significance it holds for West Ham fans.
In a 2024 interview with TNT Sports, Noble reflected on his playing days and how matches against Tottenham always carried extra weight. While Arsenal may have been considered a major club in London, Noble admitted that there was always something different about facing Spurs.
“I don’t think Arsenal were a massive rival—they were winning titles and all that. There was just something with Spurs that made it such a big rivalry,” Noble said.
His passion for the fixture was evident in his approach to motivating his teammates before each showdown with Tottenham.
“I loved the rivalry, I loved playing in those games. I remember saying to the boys many times, ‘Listen, you don’t need a team talk for these games. It is what it is, we’ve got to try and win,’” Noble recalled. “I was brought up as a West Ham fan, and being around loads of West Ham fans myself, they always ingrained in me that ‘we’ve always got to beat Spurs.’”
One of the most memorable moments of Noble’s career came in April 2019 when West Ham handed Tottenham their first defeat at their new stadium with a 1-0 win. Despite the significance of the victory, Noble revealed that he was unwilling to let his teammates celebrate too much, as he believed West Ham should expect to beat Spurs rather than treat it as a rare achievement.
“I’ve come in and done the press, and the players wanted to take a photo together, and I’m like, ‘Not a chance are we having a photo here,’” Noble said. “I believed that we should expect to beat Spurs. It was probably a little bit of ego because I didn’t want a photo to come out of us just because we beat Spurs 1-0. For me, that wasn’t good enough—I needed to go on and be better as a club than that.”
The Rivalry Lives On
West Ham and Tottenham’s rivalry is one of the most underrated yet intense in English football. With both clubs striving for European qualification and looking to establish themselves as consistent top-half contenders, their clashes will only become more crucial in the coming seasons.
For the players, it’s a battle for bragging rights. For the fans, it’s about much more—local pride, history, and the deep-rooted desire to finish above their London rivals. As Tomas Soucek, Mark Noble, and countless West Ham supporters have made clear, the goal is simple: to be better than Tottenham.
With both teams so close in the standings, the next encounter between Spurs and the Hammers promises to be yet another fiery chapter in this ever-growing rivalry.
“Yes, we are Ahead”- West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek sends cryptic message to Tottenham
