Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino labels Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger 'one of the great managers' ahead of huge north London derby

• e-mail

Mauricio Pochettino prepared for the north London derby by lavishing praise on his ‘enemy’ Arsene Wenger, hailing him as one of football’s great innovators and the equal of Sir Alex Ferguson.

And the Spurs boss called for more respect to be shown for Wenger’s achievements since arriving at Arsenal in 1996.

‘In football history he’s one of the great managers,’ said Pochettino. ‘He deserves full credit. He will always be a special manager. To stay for 20 years, and near the top, is not easy. If you do it for five years you must be very good and very, very good if you do it for 10 years but when you talk about 20 years it’s amazing. 

Mauricio Pochettino has hailed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as one of the game's greats

Tottenham finished above Arsenal in the Premier League for the first time last season

‘It is a reason to admire him. Everyone who talks about him needs to show respect. Some days you’re good, some days not so good, but always respect.’

Pochettino became the first Tottenham boss to finish above Wenger in the Premier League by clinching the runners-up spot behind Chelsea in May and would love to enjoy the same longevity in north London.

‘It is massive praise for me if you are comparing us,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘Wenger and Ferguson were always managers I looked up to for the way they built up their clubs. That’s why my respect and admiration is high. Wenger was an innovator.

‘He is my enemy because he is the Arsenal manager but he is my colleague, too. When you see what he has done at Arsenal and as a manager, I would like to be like him one day. 

Pochettino's Tottenham are four points and three places above Arsenal in the Premier League

‘Twenty years at Spurs? Maybe, 15 years. For us it is a challenge, but why not stay here five or 10 years?’

Tottenham, with Hugo Lloris and England trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Harry Winks all expected to be fit, have a four-point advantage over Arsenal as they make the trip to the Emirates on Saturday.

‘There’s not a favourite in this type of game,’ said Pochettino. ‘If you look at history, Arsenal has been above Tottenham. In the last 22 years we finished above Arsenal one time.

‘It is a massive challenge to stay there and be competitive against a team that in the last 20 years won more trophies than us, always at the top, competing in the Premier League and Champions League. Now we need to believe we are there and build our project and our era, too. We need to fight and try to win but Arsenal have a great team and a great manager.’

Pochettino hailed Wenger's achievements at Arsenal across the previous 20 years