Arsene Wenger says his Arsenal squad have the quality and experience to cope with a tense finale to the season and believes criticism following the defeat to Sp*rs must dealt with on the pitch.

The Gunners sit sixth in the table heading into Tuesday’s game with Leicester but could climb to third with a healthy win over the Premier League’s bottom side on a night when their north London rivals face a tricky trip to Liverpool.

“Every year we have been under threat until the last game,” Wenger noted when quizzed on his side’s chances of maintaining their consistent run of Champions League qualification.

“Every year we’ve managed to do it. We have a good opportunity to show that we have the strength to deal with that pressure and that we have the quality – I’m completely convinced we have the quality.

“We have to deal with our performances. The criticism is always there when you lose a game now. I don’t take it personally. What I take personally is to lose a game.

“We are responsible for what we produce on the pitch and we have to continue to move forward and deal with all the rest. The rest is not to influence us. What is important is that our ambition and the way we want to play has to be the strongest influence.

“It’s a long way to go. It will be tight for everybody and that’s what it is about. It’s about the team with the most consistency and I feel we have shown that we can deal with that kind of pressure in the past. I’m confident we can do it again.”

As things stand just ten points separate Manchester City in second and seventh place Liverpool. It makes for one of the most open top four races in recent history. Even despite the weekend’s loss we remain in the top four most in-form sides over the last six games.

The rub? Liverpool, Spurs and Southampton make up the top three.