Arsene
Wenger has warned his Arsenal stars to keep their cool when they face bitter
rivals Tottenham as the heated north London derby returns to Wembley for the
first time in 25 years. Languishing in sixth place in the Premier League,
Wenger’s side are however just four points behind fifth placed Tottenham.
With their
hopes of a top four place and qualification for the Champions Leahue hanging in
the balance, the Gunners can ill-afford a damaging defeat at the hands of their
hated neighbours on Saturday, while Tottenham are also a point adrift of the
top four and desperate to avoid defeat. Given the high stakes amid the fight
for local bragging rights, the crowd of over 80,000 are certain to make it a
frenzied occasion. Wenger knows players can lose their composure if they get
swept up by the derby atmosphere. And, with new boys Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
and Henrikh Mkhitaryan making their maiden north London derby appearances and
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli in the midst of a diving storm, the Arsenal
manager cautioned his players to stay focused. “There is always huge passion
before the game and the emotion at stake that becomes a bit more agitated,” he
said. “It is always a game that is charged emotionally. “For us, it is an
opportunity to come back closer to the Champions League places, which is a
priority.” Although Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in
November, they haven’t won an away league game against their rivals since 2014.
Fortunately, for Wenger’s men, with Tottenham playing their home games at
Wembley this season while White Hart Lane is rebuilt, it will be the first
north London derby at the national stadium since 1993. – Special day – Arsenal
won 1-0 on that occasion in the FA Cup semi-finals, avenging a 3-1 loss to
Tottenham at the same stage of that competition two years earlier. Wembley is a
happy hunting ground for Arsenal’s current generation as well. They have won
their last nine games at the national stadium, including a penalty shoot-out
victory over Chelsea in this season’s Community Shield. Asked if he preferred
the game to be at Wembley, Wenger said: “Yes, because we have a positive
history there. “Of course Wembley is a pitch that is quality, a stadium with a
big crowd and it is always a special day in your mind so overall, yes. “At
Wembley you play special games where you are under pressure to perform and we
responded well to it every time.” Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech is a doubt
having been forced off with a calf injury in the win over Everton last week.
Tottenham are unbeaten in their last eight league games, and boss Mauricio
Pochettino has not given up hope of pipping Manchester United to second place.
Defeating Arsenal would help that ambition, while carrying the added bonus of
derailing Arsenal. “I believe we can finish second. Of course we’re going to
fight for that to happen,” Pochettino said. “The gap is not massive but it will
be tough. It’s key on Saturday to win the game, to be in the race for the top
four.” Pochettino believes former Paris Saint Germain winger Lucas Moura, who
arrived last month, is ready to make his debut, possibly as a substitute. “I
think he will be ready to be in contention for Saturday,” Pochettino said. “He
is starting to feel the legs. We need to assess him, but after the last session
I hope we can put him in contention.”
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