Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PREMIER LEAGUE NEIGHBOURS
North London still have the to succeed ..and he tells Poch: Spurs will only be top dogs when you can show me your medals
tough enough to play in the derby. This guy has scored more goals than anybody in the derby. At the end of the day, it’s down to the quality of the game.”
Wenger’s hold over North London in his 21-year reign at Arsenal has been huge because, even when they have not won trophies, they have always finished above Spurs.
When Arsenal pipped them on the final day of the 2015/16 season, the Emirates celebrated wildly, showing passionately what it means.
The TV and radio pundits, who mocked Arsenal fans, clearly do not understand the mentality of a dyed-in-thewool fan.
Equally, when Tottenham finally broke Wenger’s grip last season, finishing above them, their fans enjoyed it as a hugely significant moment and a signal of a power shift in North London.
The passion remains strong and a Spurs win will only turn up the pressure on Wenger.
Despite their rivals finishing above the Gunners last season, Wenger won the FA Cup, even if they did drop out of the top four for the first time during t h e Frenchman’s reign. “We won the FA Cup, we got 75 points, so overall I think our achievement was quite positive even if it was a disappointment for us not to finish in the Champions League places for the first time in 21 years,” he said. “It always seems the judgment is definite, permanent and for ever. “But life is movement and it’s down to us to change the opinions of people with our performances.
“If they have a perception like that, how can you respond? Not by me talking here. We need to show on Saturday that it’s not true.
“It’s always a fierce derby. You need to keep your nerves, focus on the game and have full commitment, while being lucid and calm.
“It’s one of the fixtures that is very important for us and that we want to win. Basically as well because, in the table, we have to make some ground up on the top teams.
“At home, we have been very strong and that will certainly be vital in deciding where we finish at the end of the season.” ARSENE WENGER believes Arsenal will remain top dogs in North London until Tottenham win a trophy.
Mauricio Pochettino helped Tottenham to finish above Arsenal for the first time in Wenger’s 21-year reign last season and there appears to be a power shift in the fierce rivalry.
But Wenger claimed Arsenal will start tomorrow’s derby as favourites and that Spurs boss Pochettino’s biggest obstacle is to overcome “fear and inhibitions” to win his first silverware. The Argentinian has yet to win anything during his three years at Tottenham, who have won just one trophy – the League Cup – in the past 18 years.
Gunners boss Wenger said: “It is difficult to win trophies. It is difficult to finish any job.
“You do it by keeping your nerves and getting the players to focus on what is important.
“And at some stage, by fighting a bit against your inhibitions – the fear that you won’t get over the line.
“You need to focus on what is important and not focus on the trophy too much.
“I don’t want to judge people. I think he’s done an exceptional job and he’s a good manager. After that, in our job it’s the distances and the quality that makes the difference.
“He has all the ingredients to go a long way, but overall it’s very difficult to predict what will happen in his career.
“It is up to us to get over the line and win trophies and it is not easy. But it is a quality, patience.”
Wenger also reckoned that Tottenham are not favourites going into the derby and even interrupted a TV interviewer’s question to point out how long his team had been dominant in North London.
“For 20 years!” insisted Wenger, before being asked if Arsenal are underdogs.
“No, not at all. Tottenham are a good side, but we have the quality to win this game.”