Arsene Wenger says Arsenal have the quality to beat Tottenham in north London derby

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal have the quality to beat Tottenham on Saturday

Arsene Wenger has dismissed the idea that Arsenal are underdogs for Saturday's north London derby against Tottenham.

The Gunners finished behind their huge rivals last season for the first time since Wenger took charge in 1996 and are four points adrift of third-placed Spurs already this term.

But Wenger denied the tide had turned to the extent that he considered his side the underdogs for the eagerly-awaited derby at the Emirates.

"Not at all," said the Arsenal manager.

"I think Tottenham is a good side but we have the quality to win this game and that is what we want to show."

Wenger has a superb record in the north London derby and agreed that it is a fixture he always looks forward to.

"There is always pride involved, a desire to beat your opponent," he said.

"You need to have full commitment, but as well be lucid enough and calm enough to focus on the game.

"It is one of the fixtures of course that is very important for us and that you want to win.

"Basically as well, in the table, we have to make some ground up with the top teams.

Olivier Giroud is likely to miss the derby after suffering a thigh injury

"At home we have been very strong and our home strength will certainly be vital to decide where we finish at the end of the season."

Wenger said defender Shkodran Mustafi and forward Danny Welbeck will have fitness tests ahead of Saturday's game.

But French striker Olivier Giroud is unlikely to be available after picking up a thigh strain while on international duty.

Watch Arsenal v Tottenham live on Saturday from 11.30am on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.

              

Arsenal vs Tottenham

November 18, 2017, 11:30am

Arsene Wenger insists that 20 years of North London dominance over Tottenham means Arsenal cannot be considered underdogs for Saturday’s derby.

Spurs finished ahead of Arsenal for the first time in 22 years last season and currently have a four-point lead on their rivals going into the clash at the Emirates Stadium.

But Wenger was adamant at his press briefing on Thursday morning that the balance of power has not shifted. When it was put to him that Arsenal had been dominant for a ‘long time’, he interrupted to say: ‘For 20 years.’

He then refuted the suggestion that Arsenal were underdogs to Maurico Pochettino’s side: ‘No, not at all. I think Tottenham are a good side but we have the quality to win this game and that’s what we want to show.

‘We have a good opportunity to show we are the strongest, so let’s do it.’

For Wenger, the supporter flak at the end of last season for finishing outside the top four for the first time in his tenure has stung. But he believes there has been an overreaction to falling behind Spurs in the table.

He said: ‘We won the FA Cup and we made 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 for the first time in 21 years.

‘The players were disappointed but not to finish below Tottenham. Finishing outside the top four was a big disappointment, because it was the first time in the history of the Premier League that with 75 points you don’t finish in the top four.

‘I still feel it (finishing outside the top four) was very harsh on us but people forget we won the FA Cup in a very stylish way, playing against City in the semi and Chelsea in the final.’

Arsenal will face England’s leading striker in Harry Kane, but Wenger insisted there would be no fear. He said: ‘We want to keep him quiet. But we have no fear. We are just focused on nullifying their strong points and expressing our strong points.’

Earlier this week, former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon questioned the desire of the current squad and whether they had the hunger for a derby.

But Wenger said: ‘We’ve had that kind of remark for 20 years. I remember many people asked me in 2002 and 2003 if Robert Pires will be tough enough to play in the derby. These are guys who scored more goals than anybody in the derby. At the end of the day, it’s down to the quality of the game.’