Arsene Wenger claims Arsenal FC will always be stronger than Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Sunday’s derby

Arsene Wenger insists he is not worried about Tottenham’s ambitious stadium plans, claiming the Gunners will always be stronger than their North London rivals.

 

Tottenham recently completed a deal to play their home Champions League games at the Wembley Stadium this season and all their home games at the venue next season as they continue their redevelopment of White Hart Lane. The £400 million stadium is expected to be completed by the 2018/19 season.

Arsenal went through a period of severe financial restraint after a similar move engineered by Wenger himself, when they built and finally moved to the Emirates Stadium — known as Ashburton Grove prior to sponsorship — in 2006.

However, the Frenchman feels that Tottenham’s ambitious plans will not threaten the supremacy of his club. “I don’t think about Tottenham like that. I think about Arsenal and making us as big as possible, making us stronger,” said Wenger, according to the Telegraph.

“We have a strong fan base, maybe the strongest in London, and as long as we do our job Arsenal will always be the stronger.

“No position is guaranteed. It’s about doing our job, but at the end of the day everything is decided by what happens on the pitch. That is what the size of a club is about; consistency at the top level. That is just down to us.”

FILE PHOTO - (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 609115656 and 602278616) In this composite image a comparision has been made between Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal (L) and Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur meet in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on November 6, 2016 in London. ***LEFT IMAGE*** NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on September 20, 2016 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Mauricio Pochettino of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at Britannia Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal (L) and Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur meet in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on November 6, 2016 in London.  (Photo courtesy – Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Tottenham have failed to finish above Arsenal  in the Premier League since Wenger took over in 1996, but it is undeniable that they have closed the gap to their rivals. Mauricio Pochettino’s side were considered title favourites going into the tail end of last season, while Arsene Wenger’s men had already faltered and fallen too far behind.

Spurs failed to capitalise on their neighbours poor form, however, and a poor run of results saw Arsenal eventually pip them to second spot on the final day of the campaign despite never even being in the title race.

It was a bitter pill for Mauricio Pochettino and his side to swallow, and they will be hoping to make amends for it on Sunday when they travel to the Emirates to take on Arsenal in what promises to be a pulsating North London derby.

READ MORE – ARSENAL VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS: WALCOTT TRAINS; KANE, DEMBELE RUMOURED TO START NORTH LONDON DERBY

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