Arsène Wenger refuses to alter his Arsenal tactics to stop Gareth Bale - The Guardian

Link to video: Arsène Wenger stands up for Rafael Benítez ahead of Spurs v Arsenal

Arsène Wenger has said Arsenal will not be making any specials plans to try to shackle Gareth Bale in Sunday's north London derby at White Hart Lane.

Bale cracked in a superb last-minute strike to secure a 3-2 win at West Ham on Monday night, which moved Tottenham Hotspur up to third place in the Premier League. It was the latest in a series of eye-catching performances from the Welshman, who was once scouted by Arsenal when a youngster at Southampton.

Wenger, though, stressed his team must concentrate on delivering a performance themselves rather than worry about what Bale might do. "We don't plan for anybody. It is always the same – focus on our strengths and forget about your opponent," the manager said. "There is nobody special that you least like to face. All players have different qualities.

"What is important when you are a manager is that you are focused, that hasn't changed over the last 15 years, you always make sure your team is at its best, prepares well and focuses on playing the football that we love. What is important before a game like that is just to focus on our game and forget all the rest."

Despite their recent disappointments against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup and losing at home to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, Arsenal have found some form in the Premier League, where they are unbeaten in five games and have won the past three. Should Arsenal – who are now only two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea – secure victory on enemy territory this weekend, the gap on Spurs would be reduced to only one point.

"It is an interesting game because there is something at stake," Wenger said. "We are confident and we are on a good run in the Premier League. If you look at our record, it is very good in recent games, so we will just focus on our strengths, that is it.

"Sunday is a very important game because it's in the final part of the Premier League season, the outcome will give a big boost to the team who wins it. This is a derby and [will be] a very intense game, as usual, it is always very tight, always a big fight. If you look at our record in the last 15 or 16 years, it is very good. Of course we want to continue to maintain that record."

Arsenal will be without the defender Bacary Sagna because of a knee injury on Sunday, while the midfielder Abou Diaby is rated as 50-50 with a calf problem. The defender Kieran Gibbs remains out with a thigh injury.