Spurs in our class? Don't make me laugh. We're top dogs on this patch, says Wenger
Kings of north London: Wenger (left) says Spurs have a long way to go before they can consider themselves on a par with Arsenal
Their accents are as different as chalk and cheese but when they speak it is worth listening. Two of the old grand masters of football — and both know the right way to play — Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp are thoroughly engaging company, especially when there is much to play for.
Yesterday, it was Wenger who took the upper ground. After all, his Arsenal team have been lording it over Tottenham for some time. It is 19 games since they lost a league derby and Wenger, though admiring Spurs’ progress, considers them as an annoying local problem rather than full-blown rivals.
In comments Wenger knows will hurt the raiders from up the road — they may also be pinned up in Redknapp’s dressing room before today’s lunchtime kick-off — Wenger slapped down claims from the Spurs camp that they deserve to be taken seriously.
‘If you look at success, historically, they [Tottenham] have a lot of work to do,’ said Wenger. ‘We have been 12 consecutive years in the Champions League, so once they have done that they can say, of course, that they are similar.’
Wenger’s comments come after Spurs captain Robbie Keane claimed this week that the sides were ‘even’, going as far as to suggest Tottenham could call on a stronger bench than Arsenal.
The suggestion brought a wry smile from Wenger, who said: ‘In our job it is about performances not about opinions, and so I believe the most important is what you do on the football pitch.
‘I am happy with the players I have and I don’t compare with the Tottenham players. I have a strong belief in them and I believe we have the wanted strengths to win the championship.’
Arsenal and Tottenham might be level on 19 points going into today’s match, although Arsenal have a game in hand and are a place above Spurs in the Premier League table but, for Wenger, the gulf in class remains sizeable.
Tottenham, for instance, have not won at Arsenal since a 3-1 victory at Highbury in May 1993, which was also the last time Spurs won away in the league at one of the ‘Big Four’ clubs. To put it into context, 17-year-old Jack Wilshere would have been just 15 months old at the time.
It gets worse for Tottenham supporters hoping their side will better last October’s epic 4-4 draw at the Emirates.
During Wenger’s 13-year reign at Arsenal, the club have never finished lower than fourth, qualified for the Champions League each season and reached the final of the competition in 2006, losing 2-1 to Barcelona.
Tottenham, by comparison, have never finished higher than fifth in the Premier League (under Martin Jol in 2005-06 and 2006-07) and have never played Champions League football.
‘In 2006 they [Tottenham] were close to getting to the Champions League,’ said Wenger. Perhaps he did not intend to rub salt in the wounds but, nevertheless, the comment reflected the difference in ambition between the two clubs.
The statistics do not lie, yet the Arsenal manager was quick to say he still regarded Spurs as a threat.
Wenger said: ‘Tottenham are a big club, they invest massive money every year — but we managed always to get in front of them.
‘You can never say never. They have the potential. But what comes next is the consistency of achievement. At the moment nobody would deny that Arsenal are in front of them.’
Despite Wenger’s jibe about Arsenal’s Champions League record, rival manager Redknapp warned that a change to the top four is imminent. He also pointed out that Wenger should not take all the credit for bringing through so many young talents — and highlighted Arsenal’s lack of experience as a weakness.
Regarding the top four, he predicted: ‘There could be a change this year. This year, next year … I think there will be a change, for sure. Manchester City are certainly getting stronger, Tottenham are getting stronger and I think Aston Villa have got stronger this year.’
Speaking about Wenger, he said: ‘He has a great scouting system, it’s about recruitment. No disrespect to Arsene, it’s not him finding the kids — no more than it is me finding the kids here. Someone is finding them and bringing them into the club. Arsene isn’t standing on Hackney Marshes on a Sunday watching kids play football.’
Wenger will earn his 1,000th Premier League point as Arsenal manager with a win today, while Tottenham have had 13 managers (including three stints for David Pleat) since the Frenchman came to England in September 1996.
Wenger believes Tottenham have found the right man in Redknapp and said: ‘I think he has shown through his experience and intelligence that he can do it. He has done a good job because they were fighting not to go down.’
For his part, Redknapp vowed to attack Arsenal from the start to expose what he considers is their defensive vulnerability, saying that Peter Crouch will be ‘unplayable’ if Tottenham put the right crosses into the box.
‘Anyone struggles against Crouch, nobody can handle him if the service is good,’ said Redknapp.
‘Against Birmingham last week, he was up against Roger Johnson who is a good header of the ball but Crouchie came on, won five headers, hit the bar and scored a goal. He couldn’t handle him.’
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