By Boris Mellor
October 28 2005

A relaxed and confident Wenger was still glowing at the success of his youth team at Sunderland during his Arsenal.com pre -match interview. True the back four were experienced players, although Senderos and Eboue are still young, the rest of the team apart from van Persie were all teenagers.

 What Wenger liked about the performance, in particular, was the hunger the youth displayed. It was such a great hunger that by the end of the match they were dominant in every department. One reason for that is that the youth know that it is a chance to win a first team place. Senderos and van Persie can testify to that.

Wenger was not surprised at Chelsea's midweek defeat he believes that a team on such a good run can have its equilibrium disturbed merely by drawing. That a team used to winning so often may even find a draw an interruption to its progress. However, for Wenger, it is more important that Arsenal look to their own form rather than worry about Chelsea's. Wenger is optimistic that Arsenal are about to put a run together, least ways until international week puts a spanner back into the works in a fortnight's time.

The injury blight continues with Henry feeling his groin strain again, and Wenger puts his chance of playing at no more than 30%, he feels that he was brought back too early. Cole and Hleb will not be back until late November, but Campbell, Freddie, and Reyes are all fit and available.

Arsene was well aware that the perception is that Spurs are the favourites for this game, nonetheless he is confident that Arsenal will get a good result on Saturday. Wenger went on to say that he admires what Martin Jol has done at Tottenham, especially his positive approach to playing football.

If the senior squad can show the same hunger as the youth then Wenger's prediction of a good result should be safe.