Arsene Wenger insists today's north London derby with Spurs will
have more for the football purists than Arsenal's badtempered
victory over Chelsea last Sunday.
The Arsenal manager has been left angered by Chelsea captain John
Terry's claim that Emmanuel Eboue should have been sent off for the
challenge that left the England skipper with three broken bones in
his foot.
Terry said of Eboue's tackle: "I felt he left his studs in there
and it should have been a sending-off. I thought straight away I'd
broken something."
But Wenger is adamant that Terry should already have been sent off
himself following his wild lunge on Cesc Fabregas.
Wenger said: "I don't think he (Eboue) wanted to 'do' John Terry.
He has touched him and I am really sorry that John Terry is injured
but I think Terry should have been off already for that tackle (on
Fabregas)."
Wenger is expecting no repeat of such scenes against neighbours
Tottenham at The Emirates today, despite the clubs' bitter
rivalry.
Praising Spurs's style under new manager Juande Ramos, Wenger said:
"I have no suspicion that it will be bad tempered because I think
Tottenham are a team like us who are at their best when they play
football, not when they play on aggression."
Spurs will need to be at their best if they are to bring to an end
an eightyear winless run against their oldest foes.
Indeed, in 26 derbies in which Wenger has taken charge of Arsenal,
Spurs have won just once.
But, despite the odds being stacked in Arsenal's favour, Wenger
concedes that, with Ramos at the Spurs helm, he faces one of his
sternest derby tests to date.
Wenger said: "It looks like they have gained confidence. Playing
good football is linked with confidence and the fact that they have
got a new manager looks to have relieved a little bit of pressure
on the players.
"They have had a good few results and that helps."
Wenger also predicted that Ramos has the ability to bring the kind
of success to White Hart Lane that so many of his predecessors have
failed to achieve.
He said: "They look like they have plenty of resources and Ramos
has the experience and pedigree as a coach to do a good job
there."