<p class="title">Arsene Wenger insisted he never doubted Arsenal would prove the critics wrong as his side's controversial 2-0 win over Tottenham slowed their rivals' bid for north London supremacy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When Arsenal finished below Tottenham in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years last season, frustrated Gunners fans stepped up their calls for Wenger to quit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Arsenal's erratic start to the current campaign, combined with Tottenham's fine form, had only increased the pressure on Wenger.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the Gunners boss remained steadfast in his belief that his players were too good to stay stuck in a rut.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They finally rewarded that faith with a vibrant display on Saturday, securing their first league win against Tottenham since March 2014 to show the local balance of power hasn't been seized by their hated neighbours just yet.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We played with purpose, a desire to be efficient and good solidarity from the first minute. We produced an immense performance," Wenger said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We were not as bad as people said after we lost to Man City.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"When you lose people jump to conclusions, but we don't listen as much as you think to the national debate.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We live in our own club and focus on what is important. We can only give our answer on the pitch."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked if he felt a sense of vindication from the derby win after enduring so much abuse following heavy defeat at Liverpool and Manchester City, Wenger took the high road.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm here to produce a quality performance for people who come and pay their money. That is my job," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have as well sometimes to live with opinions that are not right and exaggerated.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Two weeks ago (at City) we conceded a goal that was not marginally offside, it was a yard offside, and nobody said a word.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm 35 years in the job, I can predict what happens."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Key to Arsenal's impressive performance was a tenacity that ha often eluded them in the past.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, two players' whose commitment has been doubted as they look to leave when their contracts expire at the end of the season, delivered fired-up contributions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I know Sanchez and Ozil well, when they go on the pitch they want to win," Wenger said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I never questioned their commitment. When they have bad games people think of course its because of they want to go.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They love the club, they love the team, but the quality of the contract has to be right and as well other top clubs are out there offering contracts."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Tottenham's latest flop in an away game at one of their top-six rivals punctured the optimism engendered by their recent victory over European champions Real Madrid and dented their title hopes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It was a frustrating afternoon for Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was furious with referee Mike Dean and his officials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pochettino felt Dean was wrong to award the free-kick that led to Shkodran Mustafi's opener and claimed Alexandre Lacazette was offside in the build-up to Sanchez's goal.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It was so clear. It's so difficult to explain when you lose this way," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Some big details changed the game. Granit Xhaka should have had a second yellow card. If you analyse the game, until we conceded the goal we were doing well.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is a massive mistake, it's not one mistake, it's two. It wasn't a foul and then it was offside.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"From that moment it changed. That affected the team and then we conceded another goal quickly."</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, Pochettino refused to accept Tottenham have a mental block against their title rivals, claiming no-one has it easy on the road.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are in the same situation as everyone, for Manchester United it was difficult to play at Chelsea, for Arsenal it was difficult at Manchester City," he said.</p>
<p class="title">Arsene Wenger insisted he never doubted Arsenal would prove the critics wrong as his side's controversial 2-0 win over Tottenham slowed their rivals' bid for north London supremacy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When Arsenal finished below Tottenham in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years last season, frustrated Gunners fans stepped up their calls for Wenger to quit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Arsenal's erratic start to the current campaign, combined with Tottenham's fine form, had only increased the pressure on Wenger.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the Gunners boss remained steadfast in his belief that his players were too good to stay stuck in a rut.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They finally rewarded that faith with a vibrant display on Saturday, securing their first league win against Tottenham since March 2014 to show the local balance of power hasn't been seized by their hated neighbours just yet.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We played with purpose, a desire to be efficient and good solidarity from the first minute. We produced an immense performance," Wenger said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We were not as bad as people said after we lost to Man City.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"When you lose people jump to conclusions, but we don't listen as much as you think to the national debate.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We live in our own club and focus on what is important. We can only give our answer on the pitch."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked if he felt a sense of vindication from the derby win after enduring so much abuse following heavy defeat at Liverpool and Manchester City, Wenger took the high road.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm here to produce a quality performance for people who come and pay their money. That is my job," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have as well sometimes to live with opinions that are not right and exaggerated.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Two weeks ago (at City) we conceded a goal that was not marginally offside, it was a yard offside, and nobody said a word.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm 35 years in the job, I can predict what happens."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Key to Arsenal's impressive performance was a tenacity that ha often eluded them in the past.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, two players' whose commitment has been doubted as they look to leave when their contracts expire at the end of the season, delivered fired-up contributions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I know Sanchez and Ozil well, when they go on the pitch they want to win," Wenger said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I never questioned their commitment. When they have bad games people think of course its because of they want to go.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They love the club, they love the team, but the quality of the contract has to be right and as well other top clubs are out there offering contracts."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Tottenham's latest flop in an away game at one of their top-six rivals punctured the optimism engendered by their recent victory over European champions Real Madrid and dented their title hopes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It was a frustrating afternoon for Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was furious with referee Mike Dean and his officials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pochettino felt Dean was wrong to award the free-kick that led to Shkodran Mustafi's opener and claimed Alexandre Lacazette was offside in the build-up to Sanchez's goal.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It was so clear. It's so difficult to explain when you lose this way," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Some big details changed the game. Granit Xhaka should have had a second yellow card. If you analyse the game, until we conceded the goal we were doing well.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is a massive mistake, it's not one mistake, it's two. It wasn't a foul and then it was offside.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"From that moment it changed. That affected the team and then we conceded another goal quickly."</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, Pochettino refused to accept Tottenham have a mental block against their title rivals, claiming no-one has it easy on the road.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are in the same situation as everyone, for Manchester United it was difficult to play at Chelsea, for Arsenal it was difficult at Manchester City," he said.</p>