LONDON — Arsene Wenger is convinced that Arsenal will qualify for next season’s Champions League despite their demoralising defeat in Saturday’s north London derby.

The Arsenal manager — who briefly lost his cool when questioned over the loss in a press conference ahead of their Premier League match with Leicester City at the Emirates tomorrow morning — saw his side fall below Tottenham in the Premier League table and with Southampton, Manchester United and Liverpool also in the hunt for the top four, Arsenal are in danger of missing out for the first time since 1996.

They have 13 fewer points than they did at the same stage last season.

But Wenger insisted that his side had both the quality and experience to prevail. “It will be tight, and that it is what it is about,” he said. “It is about the team that is most consistent. We have shown in the past that we can deal with that kind of pressure and we can do it again. Experience will play a big part in it.”

Wenger said the familiarity of the situation — Arsenal have finished either third or fourth in each of the past nine seasons — would benefit his team.

“Every year it was never guaranteed,” he said. “We were under threat until the last game, basically, and we managed to do it. We have a good opportunity to show we have the strength to deal with that pressure. I’m completely convinced we have the quality.”

Ahead of the game against Leicester, a match Arsenal will be expected to win comfortably, Wenger was keen to brush off the weekend derby defeat and visibly bristled when a reporter asked him one too many questions about it.

“Look, have you any other questions for tomorrow’s game?” he said, interrupting his questions. “I don’t feel it is right to dwell too much on that now. We have to focus on the next game.”

Wenger also defended himself against criticism of Arsenal’s defensive tactics on Saturday. Arsenal had only 44 per cent possession against Tottenham and only three shots on target. “I believe we wanted to protect our advantage and that’s why maybe we were not going forward enough for long periods in the game,” he said.

“But, overall, I believe that we have the technical quality that is requested. Football is about balance between defence and attack, and if you want to progress until the end of the season, it’s important that you remain tight defensively.”

Arsenal will be buoyed by the return of Alexis Sanchez to the squad after a slight hamstring injury. “Look, he is our best goalscorer and one of the hardest-working players in the team. Physically, I think we suffered a little bit on some occasions on Saturday. It’s good to have him back.” THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Premier League on TV:

Arsenal v Leicester — Singtel TV Ch 103 and StarHub TV Ch 228 at 3.40am*

Hull v Aston Villa — Singtel TV Ch 104 and StarHub TV Ch 229 at 3.40am*

Sunderland v QPR — Singtel TV Ch 105 and StarHub TV Ch 230 at 3.40am*

Liverpool v Tottenham — Singtel TV Ch 102 and StarHub TV Ch 227 at 4am*

* Wednesday morning, Singapore time.