Arsene Wenger insists today's north London derby with Spurs will have more for the football purists than Arsenal's badtempered victory over Chelsea last Sunday.
The Arsenal manager has been left angered by Chelsea captain John Terry's claim that Emmanuel Eboue should have been sent off for the challenge that left the England skipper with three broken bones in his foot.
Terry said of Eboue's tackle: "I felt he left his studs in there and it should have been a sending-off. I thought straight away I'd broken something."
But Wenger is adamant that Terry should already have been sent off himself following his wild lunge on Cesc Fabregas.
Wenger said: "I don't think he (Eboue) wanted to 'do' John Terry. He has touched him and I am really sorry that John Terry is injured but I think Terry should have been off already for that tackle (on Fabregas)."
Wenger is expecting no repeat of such scenes against neighbours Tottenham at The Emirates today, despite the clubs' bitter rivalry.
Praising Spurs's style under new manager Juande Ramos, Wenger said: "I have no suspicion that it will be bad tempered because I think Tottenham are a team like us who are at their best when they play football, not when they play on aggression."
Spurs will need to be at their best if they are to bring to an end an eightyear winless run against their oldest foes.
Indeed, in 26 derbies in which Wenger has taken charge of Arsenal, Spurs have won just once.
But, despite the odds being stacked in Arsenal's favour, Wenger concedes that, with Ramos at the Spurs helm, he faces one of his sternest derby tests to date.
Wenger said: "It looks like they have gained confidence. Playing good football is linked with confidence and the fact that they have got a new manager looks to have relieved a little bit of pressure on the players.
"They have had a good few results and that helps."
Wenger also predicted that Ramos has the ability to bring the kind of success to White Hart Lane that so many of his predecessors have failed to achieve.
He said: "They look like they have plenty of resources and Ramos has the experience and pedigree as a coach to do a good job there."