Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino wary of refreshed Arsenal in derby
Friday 6 November 2015 23:48, UK
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino feels Arsenal have the advantage of some extra rest ahead of Sunday's north London derby.
The clash at the Emirates will be Spurs' third game in seven days after they recorded consecutive wins over Aston Villa on Monday and then Anderlecht on Thursday in the Europa League.
Both matches went the distance as Harry Kane scored late to end Villa's second-half comeback before Mousa Dembele sank the Belgians with a goal three minutes from time.
Arsenal were also in Champions League action on Wednesday as they were hammered 5-1 at Bayern Munich but, returning to London on Thursday morning, Arsene Wenger's men have enjoyed an extra day's recovery ahead of this weekend's crunch meeting.
"I don't want to put out the idea they have an advantage in the game," Pochettino said.
"But it is true when you play against Anderlecht in the Europa League, it is very difficult to play Thursday and Sunday.
"Then when you play Monday against a very motivated team like Aston Villa and you need to run and suffer a lot, it is one day less to recover. You are always late to prepare for the game.
"We are a young squad and sometimes we run a lot and sometimes the effort we make is a lot. But I am not complaining.
"It is not an excuse. We are very strong in our mind and the way we showed character on Thursday and Monday showed we are ready to try 100 per cent to win the game."
Spurs, unbeaten in 10 league games, are currently five points behind second-placed Arsenal in the table and Sunday is an opportunity for both sides to lay down a marker.
"The derby is always a different game," Pochettino said. "You need to play with your heart and passion. I know what it means to our supporters.
"It's not important the past, it's how you take the game and we arrive in very good form.
"We have to be ready and be strong in our mind and try to win the game because we know what the derby means."
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