Derby stakes never higher - Wenger
The Gunners would close the gap on fourth place to just a point with victory over their bitter local rivals - and so be in pole position to qualify again for Europe's elite club competition by virtue of their game in hand.
And with Highbury set to close its turnstiles for the final time on May 7, the visit of a reborn Spurs under Martin Jol has taken on extra significance.
Wenger declared: "There was never a game that there was so much at stake for both teams. This is our biggest game of the season in the Premiership. You want, though, to combine both - not killing your chance in the Champions League and also beat Tottenham.
"If we beat Tottenham, we are in a very strong position. You can even afford a draw in one of the three remaining games."
However, defeat for the Gunners would all but end their hopes of finishing fourth, as Wenger reflected: "You will then have to have Tottenham lose one, and to draw one.
"It can still happen and it would not be completely over, but of course our chances would be damaged."
Whatever the result at Highbury, there is no doubting the transformation Spurs have gone through under Jol, who took charge following the end of the ill-fated reign of Jacques Santini in November 2004.
"I think Tottenham have had a good season," Wenger said. "I feel that point-wise, we are below our usual total, so we have dropped many points compared to last season and Tottenham has done a bit better than last year. But recently we have caught up again. They were eight points ahead of us and we have come back in a really good position now."
Wenger will have forward Jose Antonio Reyes available again tomorrow after the Spaniard served a one-match European suspension in midweek.
* Tottenham have lost midfielder Jermaine Jenas for the game because of a shin injury.
Martin Jol said: "He took a kick to his shin in training and he won't recover in time. It's too sore."
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