Arsenal would rather play Tottenham at Wembley than at White Hart Lane, says Arsene Wenger

Tottenham may have settled into their temporary home well but Arsenal boss knows his team do better there than at Lane
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
James Olley8 February 2018

Wembley has become a home from home for both Arsenal and Tottenham in recent times. Spurs have overcome an initial struggle in settling into their temporary accommodation to register victories over Liverpool and Manchester United, topped by the best of the lot: a stunning Champions League group stage success over Real Madrid in November.

They’ve lost just once at the national stadium since August. The Gunners have, obviously, played there far less but boast an impressive record dating back far longer.

Not since Obafemi Martins struck two minutes from time to hand Birmingham City a shock win in the 2011 League Cup Final has Wenger tasted defeat in Brent.

That run takes in nine matches, three FA Cup trophies and two Community Shields, the latest of which came with a penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea in the curtain-raiser to the current campaign.

It is the reason why Gunners boss Arsene Wenger this morning admitted it is a more inviting prospect to face Spurs there than at White Hart Lane, where they have won just once in the Premier League since 2007.

“We have a positive history there and of course Wembley is a pitch that is quality, a stadium with a big crowd and it is always a special day in your mind so overall yes, [I would prefer to play there],” he told Standard Sport.

“They were always very important games for us, vital games, [at Wembley] so that is why the focus was there. Is that specially linked with the players? No, it is just linked with the fact that at Wembley you play special games where you are under pressure to perform and we responded well to it every time.

“It has a little weight in it because we have a good level of performance there, so we will not feel too much ‘away’ in that situation. Anyway, it will be down to the performance on the day.”

Wenger insisted he has no qualms about throwing in his two major January imports to such a hostile occasion.

In Pictures | Arsenal vs Everton | 03/02/2018

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could barely have made a more impressive start to life in north London, the former scoring in last weekend’s romp against Everton with a sumptuous finish — albeit aided by the absence of an offside flag which should have been raised — while the latter weighed in with three assists.

There was evidence of the understanding the pair enjoyed at Borussia Dortmund as Mkhitaryan released Aubameyang for his goal and Wenger believes both players are ready for the test that awaits them. “We are in the middle of the season and they are top-quality players so why should they not repeat that type of performance?” he asked. “The [other] players know [the importance] because we’ve had many players who have been here for years.

“The good thing in sport is that you have to find a good balance between being rational and emotional. As much as you have to be emotionally charged because of the importance of the game and needing to get the high-energy level, once you’re on the pitch you have to be calm and focused.

Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan made a fine start to life at Arsenal
Getty Images

“That’s why you can’t let the emotions take over. It’s down to making good decisions on the pitch.

“The memory is always the huge passion before the game and the emotional state. That becomes a bit more agitated. I worked with Pat Rice when I arrived for many years, so he got me very quickly on that territory!

“It’s always a game that is a bit more emotionally charged because of the importance it has for us, the fans and everyone around the club. This season, if you look at the table, for us it’s a very important game.”

That is chiefly because of Arsenal’s wretched away form. The Gunners have won just three League games on the road this season, the latest of which came at Crystal Palace on December 28. “Overall we lost games with 75 per cent possession, at Swansea for example,” said Wenger. “So we had not the same comfort because of the negative history, maybe. At the start it was a bit linked with bad luck, bad decisions.

“You look at the mistakes we made and I am quite optimistic because I am sure we will not repeat that.”

Wenger confirmed defender Nacho Monreal is set to return to action after being substituted at half-time against Everton through illness while Arsenal continue to be hopeful over goalkeeper Petr Cech and striker Danny Welbeck’s availability. Cech has not trained so far this week after receiving a kick to the calf against Everton and Wenger will make a decision between the 35-year-old and back-up David Ospina.

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