A sequence of three demoralising defeats is far from ideal preparation for a north London derby with higher than average stakes but Arsène Wenger is backing his players to respond to what he calls “crunch time”.
The mood around the Arsenal camp has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the buildup to this visit to White Hart Lane. With Wenger’s old protege Thierry Henry bringing up the sensitive subject of supporter unrest and Alexis Sánchez questioning the hunger within the squad, the tension is palpable.
If Arsenal have been standing nervously outside the creaking door of the last chance saloon of their title challenge over recent weeks, this four-mile trip down the Seven Sisters Road feels like the equivalent of stepping right in. “I feel we are ready,” Wenger says. “I think the players have character.” He has no option but to publicly outline those sentiments before such a critical contest. Arsenal trail Tottenham by three points –and have an inferior goal difference – and sit six points behind Leicester. It is still within grasp but they cannot afford any more jitters.
The evidence of recent displays does not easily back up Wenger’s notion of readiness and character in a convincing way. Consecutive losses in the past week against Manchester United and Swansea corroded Arsenal’s confidence far more than the disappointment of succumbing to Barcelona in the Champions League. What was notable was how the players became so overloaded with pressure that it had a shattering effect. After conceding what turned out to be killer goals against United and Swansea, the players looked so debilitated they could not react. They appeared almost to be in shock, playing football in a kind of heavy daze.
“If you were in our dressing room after the [Swansea] game you would see we are devastated to lose,” Wenger said. “Nobody moved for minutes and minutes.”
The challenge to turn this mood on its head is pressing. Wenger did not welcome the distraction provoked by Henry’s opinion on the atmosphere after the latest collapse. The club’s record goalscorer said in his column in the Sun on Friday that he had “never heard the Arsenal supporters as angry as they were at the Emirates on Wednesday night”. Wenger’s response was pointed: “Thierry Henry has his opinions. He has not found the measurement of the angriness of 60,000 people straight away because he sits in the best seats in the stadium.”
Henry’s punditry role, alongside his post as a coach for the Arsenal Under-19s, makes for an awkward mix. “He’s in a difficult role,” Wenger added, before expressing his preference to discuss it with Henry face to face. “His comments are like any other comments – they cannot help us to win, nor be an excuse to lose. We have to focus on ourselves.
“Do you want your fans to be happy to lose a game? Our fans are unhappy, I am unhappy, we’re all unhappy. Why do you want people to be happy when you lose? It’s quite remarkable that people are shocked by statements like that. We have to provoke the positive reaction from the fans. We are playing to have the chance to be champions.”
Wenger has enough concerns with matters on the pitch not to be sidelined too long by anything off it. Arsenal go to a venue that has not been particularly happy for them in recent seasons without two big influences in their defence. Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny are injured. Up front the fluency Wenger strives for is not flowing.
In September, Arsenal faced the same north London derby trip in the Capital One Cup on the back of some damaging results. Two goals from the most unlikely source, Mathieu Flamini, helped them to an unexpected and uplifting win.
Wenger has seen enough of these games, and enough challenges to the dynamic between Arsenal and Tottenham over the years, to know nothing can be taken for granted. This particular collision has an extra edge as it is not only top four but a shot at the top, on the line.
“This is maybe one of the few where the title race is at stake, maybe the only one since I am here,” Wenger said. “It will be passionate because there is a lot at stake. It has always been like that because at White Hart Lane the fans are very close, the pitch is not too big. We have, maybe, more duels than usual and the pitch is quick as well.”
Does he like that particular atmosphere? Wenger smiles. “I love it.”