Arsenal Wenger believes Arsenal will remain top dogs in north London until arch-rivals Tottenham end their trophy drought.
Opposite number Mauricio Pochettino helped Spurs finish above their closest neighbours for the first time in Wenger’s 21-year reign last season, and there does appear to be a power shift in the fierce rivalry.
But he claimed hosts Arsenal will still start Saturday’s derby as favourites and that Pochettino’s biggest obstacle is to overcome “fear and inhibitions” to win his first piece of silverware.
The Argentinian has yet to deliver a trophy during his three years at a club who have celebrated only one pot – the 2007-08 League Cup – in the past 18 seasons.
Gunners boss Wenger, who has won the FA Cup three times in the past four years, said: “It is difficult to win trophies. It is difficult to finish any job.
“You do it by keeping your nerves and getting the players to focus on what is important.
“And at some stage, by fighting a bit against your inhibitions – the fear that you won’t get over the line.
“You need to focus on what is important and not focus on the trophy too much.
“I don’t want to judge people. I think he’s [Pochettino] done an exceptional job and he’s a good manager. After that, in our job it’s the distances and the quality that makes the difference.
“He has all the ingredients to go a long way, but overall it’s very difficult to predict what will happen in his career. It is up to us to get over the line and win trophies and it is not easy. But it is a quality, patience.”
Wenger also reckoned that Tottenham are not favourites going into the derby — and even interrupted a TV interviewer’s question to point out how long his team had been dominant in North London.
“For 20 years!” insisted the Frenchman, before being asked if Arsenal are Saturday's underdogs.
“No, not at all. Tottenham are a good side, but we have the quality to win this game.”