Wenger wants derby win as proof of title credentials

Arsene Wenger wants Arsenal to prove their title credentials by bouncing back from their 5-1 defeat at Bayern Munich by beating Tottenham.
Arsenal’s hopes of making the last 16 of the Champions League are hanging by a thread following their humbling at the Allianz Arena, but they are being kept off the top of the Premier League by goal difference alone.
Wenger believes Sunday afternoon’s north London derby at Emirates Stadium is the perfect game for his side on the back of their midweek disappointment.
“It is about how we respond. When we lost heavily to Inter Milan in 2003 (losing 3-0 at home) we responded well. This is what I want now.
“Great teams can withstand big disappointments. I believe this is a potential title-winning team and this is a chance to put things right.
“We have to be in the fight at Christmas. The desire is there. We need to show it in all our games.
“What is positive for us is, if you look at our fixtures until now, we have played all the big teams and the teams fighting at the top apart from Man City.
“When we were top two years ago we had only played the teams in the second half of the table. This time we are in a strong position and we have played many teams who are in the top half of the table.”
Wenger, who is unlikely to make too many changes from the Bayern game, has reiterated his belief that Arsenal can still qualify for the knockout stages.
“I like to be loyal. I think when you are a player and have played football, you know that they are not machines. Sometimes you have a day when you are not good. Overall, what you look at is the performances of the last 10 to 15 games.
“We can still have a bright future in the Champions League. I feel we are not out of the competition yet.
“Of all the teams I have seen Bayern would be the super favourite. We knew before the game that Bayern was a special game for us and that the Premier League is a competition where we are on a strong run up to now and we want to continue that. This weekend we have a good opportunity to put things right.”