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‘Derby can bring out the best in us’

Arsene Wenger is confident that Saturday’s north London derby will bring out the best in his team.

The Gunners head into the game at White Hart Lane three points behind their rivals, having lost three matches in succession.

 

However, Wenger believes that the intensity of the occasion will motivate his side as they seek to keep pace in the Premier League title race.

 

“It will [bring out the best in them] and I’m confident that it will be very vocal,” he said. “Of course what matters is what goes on, on the pitch.

“We have players who have played everywhere in Europe, in very vocal places, and when you have the right performance we have always got the right result.

“It is a big game and an important one. We prepare for every single game with the same intensity, the same focus and there are not a lot of special things to do. Maybe the impact and consequences on the table [are more significant] but the preparation is the same.

“I had a few [very competitive derbies] and it is very difficult to predict what will happen on Saturday. Maybe it is one of the few where the title race is at stake, maybe the only one since I have been here.”

Tottenham’s high-pressing game has been a key feature of their performances this season, but Wenger says his side showed they can do the same when they faced Barcelona last month.

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“I think every game is different and we have to adapt to the problems we will face together as a team,” he said. “We did that well for long periods [against Barcelona] and I think we were a bit unbalanced after Oxlade-Chamberlain got injured.

“What is most important is to find that balance in the team to give [Tottenham] problems.”

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