- Chris Hughton remembers the day he scored two goals in a north London derby
- Tottenham’s former star only scored 20 goals in a career that spanned 16 years
- He has also beaten them twice as a manager with Newcastle and Norwich
- He hopes to make it a hat-trick with Brighton on Sunday at the Amex Stadium
Brighton manager Chris Hughton scored only 20 goals for club and country in a playing career which spanned 16 years, so it’s not surprising he still remembers vividly the day he got two against Arsenal.
Hughton, a hard-working and cultured full-back who spent 27 years at White Hart Lane as player and coach, was a hero in 1983 when he inspired a 5-0 victory over the old enemy.
It’s a result which still stands in history as Tottenham’s joint biggest-ever win in the North London derby, with Mark Falco (2) and Alan Brazil adding to a memorable day in a season in which Spurs finished fourth in the top flight, 11 points and six places above their rivals.
Chris Hughton has had plenty of joy against Arsenal before and during Arsene Wenger’s reign
Scroll forward 35 years and Arsenal are struggling again as they prepare for a match at the Amex which sees manager Arsene Wenger under intense pressure – and Hughton ready to pounce again, albeit this time from the dugout.
‘I’ve had some good moments against Arsenal,’ said the 59 year-old who also won 53 caps (and scored once) for the Republic of Ireland.
‘As a player I remember scoring two goals against them in one game – which for a full-back was a real achievement! That would be right up there, for sure, because it was a big win.
‘But I’ve also had some good memories as a manager, too. At Newcastle we managed to beat them 1-0 at the Emirates – and at Norwich we won 1-0 at Carrow Road.’
Hughton’s Newcastle United side beat Arsenal at the Emirates thanks to Andy Carroll’s goal
Andy Carroll scored the winner for Hughton in the first of those encounters in 2010 while Grant Holt was the match-winner two years later. But the Brighton manager is adamant his desire for an Arsenal hat-trick has nothing to do with his Tottenham credentials.
He said: ‘It’s not because it’s Arsenal. Yes, my allegiance and background is Tottenham – and Tottenham will be the club I always support. But as a manager you have to put that to one side and divorce yourself from all of it.
‘It has nothing to do with particular games or particular personalities. I only have one ambition and that is to win as many games as possible and stay in this division.’
Brighton, unbeaten in six, have only Steve Sidwell (ankle) on their injury list and are likely to be unchanged from the side which beat Swansea 4-1 last weekend.
Grant Holt struck for Norwich to give Hughton another scalp over Tottenham’s biggest rivals