Arsenal vs Tottenham: We deserved to win all three points, declares Mauricio Pochettino

Wenger was rescued by an improbable scorer, left-back Kieran Gibbs, who had not scored for three years and who played left-wing when he came on

Olivier Giroud was said to be ‘angry’ at his missed chances (Getty)

It said everything about the balance of the north London derby that Arsène Wenger, not always the most accurate judge of a match in its immediate aftermath, thought a draw was a fair result while Mauricio Pochettino felt his side deserved to win.

“My feeling is it was not a fair result as we had more play. They had some chances but I feel we deserved to win the game,” said Pochettino. The Tottenham manager added: “I am proud of my players, the character they showed. We are a very young squad and showed great character and maturity. In six days we have played three games. It is difficult when you play Monday-Thursday-Sunday and the opponent has played Saturday-Wednesday-Sunday.”

Wenger admitted: “There is a mixture of relief and regret. We were 1-0 down, but if we were really clinical we would have won in the last 15 minutes. [Olivier] Giroud had chances to score. But if I try to be fair I must say a point is a fair result.”

Giroud, said Wenger, was “very angry” at his failure to convert a series of late chances, which pleased his manager. “When you see a player who is happy to miss chances you worry,” said Wenger. “He is a real goalscorer. He worked hard and he fought. Maybe he wanted too much to score, but it can happen, I accept that.”

Goalscoring can be a capricious art. Tottenham’s Harry Kane now has six goals in four games after a lean start to the season and his manager said: “I always had faith in him, even when he was not scoring. It was hard for him but he learnt a lot.”

Wenger was rescued by an improbable scorer, left-back Kieran Gibbs, who had not scored for three years and who played left-wing when he came on. Wenger said: “He played there when he was a kid and he gets in good positions – it shows he is an intelligent player.” Wenger added: “I had very little attacking options on the bench.”

Indeed, the injury crisis has not hugely weakened Arsenal’s first team, not compared with the problems suffered by Bournemouth, who have lost the spine of their side, or Everton, who have lost most of their defence, but it has weakened the squad.

Wenger, who hopes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey will be fit to play after the international break, and no one else gets injured playing for their country, had another problem yesterday, with Santi Cazorla experiencing dizzy spells.

“We suffered in the first half as Santi was 30 per cent of his potential, he was dizzy and he could not move. I was so many times thinking, ‘Should I take him off?’ At half-time I did and we were better balanced in the second half.

“Cazorla is usually the guide in our game and he did not get the ball. Tottenham is a good side and when you play with one guy less it is difficult.” Cazorla, said Wenger, had since said he felt OK.

Wenger added, in reference to the midweek humbling in Munich: “We have shown our character again. We were a bit on the ropes but we responded. Every time we have a disappointment I feel we respond well in the game after.”

With Manchester City held at Villa Park, victory would have taken Arsenal top but Wenger took the long view. “You can say both teams missed an opportunity. In the last six league games we have won five and drawn one. It can happen that you drop two points in six games. City drew, Liverpool lost. It shows the championship will be extremely difficult and mental qualities can have a big impact in the future.”