Arsène Wenger had been asked for his memories of Mauricio Pochettino, the player, and he responded by turning his palm upwards and making a karate-chopping gesture in a diagonal direction.
"Tough," the Arsenal manager added, with a smile. Wenger, clearly, has vivid recollections of Pochettino's brutal, scything foul on Michael Owen at the 2002 World Cup, which gave England their penalty in the 1-0 win over Argentina.
More seriously, Wenger recognises an uncompromising new managerial rival in north London; one, he feels, who has made a positive impact at Tottenham Hotspur and will add to the passion of what stands to be a gripping derby at White Hart Lane at lunchtime today.
The subplots are numerous, and they include Theo Walcott going head-to-head with Tottenham for the first time since January last year, when he was carried off during the FA Cup tie at the Emirates Stadium and, on the stretcher, made a scoreline gesture at the visiting fans. Arsenal were 2-0 up at the time.
It is a showdown that brims with creative potential, not to mention significance in the race for the Champions League places. Wenger described the Tottenham striker Harry Kane as having been "absolutely outstanding until now". Could he, or the equally in-form Christian Eriksen, make the difference for the home team?
Mouthwatering
Wenger’s attacking options are mouthwatering and this is without
Alexis Sanchez
, who has a hamstring problem. The Chilean, however, has struggled to accept that he will not play.
“He feels he can defy the medical people,” Wenger said. “Because he is so keen to play, he thinks he can get over strains.” Could Sanchez yet feature?
There is, of course, the broader sweep of history and Wenger’s supremacy in this bitter neighbourhood spat. Since arriving at Arsenal in September 1996, he has always finished above Tottenham and his record in all competitions against them reads: W21 D17 L6. He has seen off 10 Tottenham managers, excluding caretakers.
Fire
Pochettino dodged the question of what it would mean to him to finish above Arsenal and he preferred to talk about the fire of such fixtures, suggesting that the heart would always rule the head in them.
“It is impossible to put out the passion and the emotion,” Pochettino said. “Our supporters go to the stadium because they feel passion. We need to feel the same passion [as them]. You need to be clever, to play with your brain but, also, you need to play with your heart.”
Both Tottenham and Arsenal are in what is known these days as "a good moment". They have found stability; entertaining players are to the fore and confidence has swelled. Pochettino mentioned how his team were feeling more comfortable at White Hart Lane – where they enjoyed their breakthrough win against Chelsea on New Year's Day.
This one matters the most.
“I can be torn between my head and my heart, as I am attracted by giving more balance to going forward,” Wenger said. “But the first thing my heart wants is to win.” Guardian Service
