He may have experienced derbies in Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester during his time as a player and coach, but Mikel Arteta has revealed why he thinks the north London derby is extra special.
Having participated in the battles between us and Tottenham on either side of the touchline, the Spaniard believes that the history of the rivalry and his bond with the club means that, for him, it sits apart from other clashes between city rivals across the UK.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, when asked about what makes this derby game unique, Mikel said: "Many things.