Arsene Wenger prepared for his 50th North London derby by dismissing the rise of Tottenham and defending his record over two decades at Arsenal.
Wenger’s team are sixth with six games to play and trail their neighbours by 14 points in the Premier League amid predictions of a local power shift.
Arsenal are braced for the triple blow of finishing outside the top four for the first time since their manager arrived at the club in October 1996, failing to qualify for the Champions League and finishing a season below Spurs for the first time since 1995.
‘You cannot say the weight of one year has the weight of 20,’ said Wenger. ‘I answered the question of shift for 18 consecutive years, nothing changes in that.
‘The priority for us is to finish in the top four. After that, for pride and the continuity of our achievements.
‘Yes, we want to fight to be in front of Spurs but first of all what is important is to finish in the top four.’
Victory for Mauricio Pochettino’s team at White Hart Lane on Sunday will guarantee an end to Tottenham’s miserable run of looking at up Arsenal at the end of the season.
Spurs thought they had cracked the hoodoo last season only to throw it away by failing to win any of their last four games but this time the gap appears to great.
‘If, if, if,’ said Wenger. ‘We live with the when. It’s true that we have to respond to: “If the worst happens what do you do?” Let’s make sure the best happens and give everything to make sure we finish in a strong way our season.
‘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.
‘I focus on Arsenal. What happens to Spurs is not for me to comment about. We have big Premier League games and an FA Cup final to prepare. We have to focus on us.’
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