In the aftermath of Arsenal’s thrilling 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, Spurs players Eric Dier and Danny Rose both said the mood at the Emirates Stadium, in the stands and between the players, had felt different.

A touchline scuffle followed Dier’s first-half header and the friction continued off the field, when Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino responded to Arsenal’s post-match selfies by saying he does not want to see his players celebrating in that manner until they win a trophy.

For Rose, it provided a welcome contrast with what he has come to expect in recent years. “When we've played at the Emirates before, the atmosphere has not been like that,” he said. “It's special.”

Dier, meanwhile, added: “It felt like a derby again. I don’t think it’s felt like that for quite a few years and football needs these kind of games. If you take the emotion out of these games then you’re ruining football.”

The question, then, is why? The north London derby has always been a big occasion, of course, but why did the most recent clash have such a different feel for the players?