Trophy hurt drives Wenger on

15 years of Wenger: An appreciation

Arsenal take on Tottenham in the north London derby at White Hart Lane on Sunday with the two clubs facing the prospect of a potential dog-eat-dog battle for a Champions League spot at the end of the season.

Yet Wenger, whose last major trophy was lifting the FA Cup in 2005, insists he has lost none of his ambition despite his recent struggles, and believes he still has the drive to make Arsenal the best club in the world.

Wenger said: "I miss winning titles. Very much. You only have one way, to fight and win again.

"I feel part of what is very important for us is to transform the club into a top-level club, into a club that has a fantastic future potential with values that we think are very important in the game.

"The style of play, the way we behave to develop young players, to give a chance to people who deserve it in life.

"That for me is very important in the history of the club.

"The vision is to make this club the best club in the world, it is as simple as that. I'm very proud of the values I defend in the game and we will try to continue to do that."

When asked how long it might take to put Arsenal on top, 61-year-old Wenger added: "In my life I hope. You may say to me I have to live very long, I don't know. I want to try to give my best because only the best is acceptable and if I don't manage to do it I am very sad."

Does Wenger believe he can stay another 15 years at the club after receiving resounding support from owner Stan Kroenke?

"I am up for it but it depends first of all on my club," he said.

"Do they want me to stay? Then on my health as well because that is something that you consider when you get to my level because it demands a lot of energy."

Wenger admits the rise of neighbours Tottenham is one of the challenges which spur him on and on Sunday his side will come up against former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor and playmaker Luka Modric.

The latter is a player Wenger has confessed to tracking before Tottenham made their move.

And Wenger urged the Arsenal fans not to abuse Adebayor, on loan at White Hart Lane from Manchester City, despite his relationship with them turning sour.

The Arsenal boss, however, has refuted Adebayor's bad-boy image.

He said: "He is not a difficult guy to manage. No, no. Football is about performances and every guy has a difficulty to manage, but he was not one you remember to be especially difficult. He can be a threat on Sunday."

He also urged the Arsenal fans to respect their former striker who in the past has been subjected to vile abuse by some football fans.

"That's what you don't want," Wenger said.

"You want people to support the team in a positive way. A football game is a fantastic day that everyone has to enjoy and with a positive atmosphere it is even more fantastic so let our fans get behind our team and forget about the rest."

Asked why he did not sign Modric, Wenger explained: "We knew Modric before Tottenham knew him. We played against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League and he played in the same team as Eduardo against us.

"At the time we had (Cesc)Fabregas, not a bad player. But we were interested in Modric. He is very mobile. I'm not surprised how well Modric has done, I knew he would do well."

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott looks set to return on Sunday following a knee injury along with Gervinho (hamstring), but central defender Laurent Koscielny is out.

Alex Song is likely to feature. Defender Thomas Vermaelen's return from an ankle injury, however, looks like being a couple of weeks later than anticipated, some time towards the end of October.