Source: Team_Talk
Wenger: Redknapp the man for Spurs
Wenger welcomes Redknapp to Emirates Stadium on Saturday in the knowledge that whoever comes out on top will move one step closer to Champions League qualification.Redknapp has worked wonders at White Hart Lane since quitting Portsmouth to join the club just over a year ago.When he took over the club Spurs lay four points off the bottom of the table but he guided them to an eighth place finish, just two points off claiming a Europa League spot.Ten games into the season Spurs sit just one place behind the Gunners in fourth.The Frenchman attributes their improvement to Redknapp and insists Spurs will continue to improve if they stick with him."Have they found the right man to lead them? Yes, I think so," the 60-year-old said."He has shown through his experience and his intelligence that he can do it."Stability is an important part in success in football but it's not easy to manage because no chairman would tell you the opposite."Every chairman wants stability so it's not easy to manage if you look at the Premier League there are not many managers that stay there a long time so that means it's not easy to achieve."Wenger will be without key players Theo Walcott, Denilson and Tomas Rosicky for today's derby while Samir Nasri is only expected to make the bench.Extra responsibility, therefore, will be placed upon the shoulders of Andrei Arshavin, who will be making his first North London derby appearance since signing from Zenit St Petersburg.The Russian forward, signed last February for £15million, has excelled in the more attacking role Wenger has given him this season.The 28-year-old has been instrumental in Arsenal's success this season, and Wenger believes the stage is set for him to shine against Spurs."Arshavin can change any game, anywhere at any moment so I believe he will have a great game," Wenger said."He is a player I love not only because he is talented but because he is efficient. I am confident he will have a big impact on the game."Wenger also plans to replace Vito Mannone with Manuel Almunia, who has been battling to regain the number one jersey since recovering from a chest infection two weeks ago."I am always tempted to start with Manuel Almunia but he was sick for a long time," Wenger said."A player who is on the bench wants to play, that is of course always the same." Arsenal v Tottenham. Click here to bet.