Wenger: It would be ‘criminal’ to feel sorry for ourselves

Arsene Wenger maintains it would be “criminal” for Arsenal to just sit and feel sorry for themselves ahead of tomorrow’s north London derby against Tottenham at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have taken a battering in the past 11 days, slumping to a 4-0 defeat in Milan which all but ended their Champions League hopes before then crashing out of the FA Cup at Sunderland. By contrast, Spurs are flying high under Harry Redknapp, currently 10 points ahead of their rivals in third place and face a home replay with Stevenage to make it through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Wenger, though, insists now is not the time for self pity as his squad look for a response to keep themselves in the top four ahead of Chelsea, who host Bolton today.

“No matter what we say at the moment it will be printed in a negative way. It is up to us to transform that into a positive way,” the Arsenal boss said. “You can’t complain. We are in a fantastic job and we have a big game in front of us — to feel sorry for ourselves would be criminal.

“We live in a world where everybody is positive when it goes well, but life is not only ups, it is ups and down, successful lives are how people respond when you are down.”

While Spurs fans may be revelling in their status as London’s current leading club, Wenger will reserve his judgment until May.

“You judge at the end of the season,” he said. “The only thing you can say is that in the last 15 years Spurs have finished behind Arsenal.”

The Gunners boss added: “Tottenham are doing well and we are on a good run in the championship so it will be a good game. Every game is massive now until the end of the season, but it is exciting.

“What is terrible is to play a game of no importance. What is important is that we enjoy it and come out with a good performance.”