WENGER ON A POWER TRIP
He scoffs at claim rivals Spurs have overtaken Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has always scanned horizons far beyond the limits of north London and as a critical derby loomed he showed more appetite for debate on the social perils of gambling than the rise of Tottenham.
‘It is immoral, I would forbid it,’ said Wenger, on the subject of all gambling — even the Lottery — rather than spurs, who are hot favourites to extend their winning run at White Hart Lane when Arsenal visit tomorrow.
Victory for Mauricio Pochettino will mean he becomes the first Tottenham manager to finish above Arsenal in the table since gerry Francis in 1995.
For Wenger, defeat in his 50th north London derby would go beyond local hegemony and inflict huge damage to his hope of preserving a perfect record of Champions League qualification. ‘If, if, if,’ tutted the Frenchman. ‘We live with the when. Let’s make sure the best happens and give everything to make sure we finish our season in a strong way.’
Asked whether power was shifting in the neighbourhood, Wenger switched to sarcasm. ‘no, I think Arsenal is a much smaller club and we are absolutely terrible,’ he said with a smirk.
‘It is a question I’ve answered for 20 years. You cannot say the weight of one year has the weight of 20. I’ve answered the question of shift for 18 consecutive years. nothing changes in that.
‘Yes, we want to fight to be in front of spurs. But the priority for us is to finish in the top four. After that, for pride and the continuity of our achievements. We have big Premier League games and an FA Cup final to prepare for.
‘It’s one of the few times where spurs, in people’s minds, are favourites. It looks like that but it doesn’t matter too much to me. Let’s see how it finishes.’
On this issue, the managers agree. Pochettino urged his players to control emotions and target three more points to keep the title race alive. Tottenham have won every game at White Hart Lane since October.
‘My challenge and my aim is not to be above Arsenal,’ said Pochettino. ‘My challenge and my aim — my dream — is to be above 19 teams and be on the top.
‘I will be very disappointed if we don’t win the title. But I won’t think: what is Arsenal’s position? With respect, I don’t care what happens with Arsenal. What I care about is what happens with us.
‘ We are so close ( to league leaders Chelsea), only four points, but it is massive with only five games to play.’
Pochettino’s stance is a mark of progress in n17. For so long, Wenger loved to stress how his team had more important targets than settling a silly local squabble.
Arsenal in the early Wenger years stacked up trophies and set forth into the Champions League as Tottenham won next to nothing and contrived to slide below their rivals when it mattered.
Last year, spurs took two points from their final four fixtures and Arsenal eased past into second place on the final day with a 4-0 defeatfeat of Aston Villa, while Pochettino’s side imploded at relegated newcastle.
Then there was the lasagne mystery of 2006, when a sickness bug struck spurs down ahead of a defeat at West Ham as Arsenal won at home to Wigan to pip them to fourth.
This year, with a 14-point edge, surely it cannot happen.
‘We are strong in our minds,’ said Pochettino. ‘It is true in the last few years Arsenal have been above Tottenham but I think the power is equal.
‘Tottenham is a club with a massive history and only we can develop that history. We have our own philosophy, our own titles, our own way and it is important to be focused.
‘I understand for the fans it means a lot, all that has happened with Arsenal.
‘You cannot ignore that it is a derby and all that it means for the fans but we are not only playing a derby.
‘We are playing for another big thing and that is to be alive in the race, trying to win the Premier League until the end of the season. The good thing in our mind is that there is no doubt we can win it.’
Both managers are waiting on fitness tests on key players. Wenger gives centre back Laurent Koscielny a 60-40 chance of recovering from a jarred knee in time to lead out Arsenal and Pochettino will assess midfielder Mousa Dembele’s ankle today. Added emotion, if necessary, comes from the knowledge that this will be the last north London derby at the Lane as we know it.
‘We shall ensure that we give the Lane a fitting farewell,’ said spurs chairman Daniel Levy yesterday.
Although Wenger might appreciate the extra space of the new stadium, he has fond memories of the old place, winning the title there in 2004 late in the Invincibles campaign.
‘They equalised in the last minute and we nearly had a fight in the dressing room between sol Campbell and Jens Lehmann because Jens gave away the penalty,’ said the Arsenal boss.
‘It was not a penalty, honestly. It was a nice gift, once again.
‘I am not in a position where the sentiment comes in too much. I personally won’t miss it but I like the atmosphere.
‘ I’m told I’ve had 50 north London derbies and there are some special ones in there.
‘I’m not in a mood today to reflect but maybe one day I will write a book just about the derbies.’
Perhaps there is scope for a chapter on how Arsenal broke Tottenham hearts again, this time by ending their title hopes in the Lane’s last derby.
‘I’m not in football to stop other teams being successful, I’m in football to be successful,’ said Wenger, still scanning the horizon for something bigger than a spat with spurs.