Tottenham vs Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez admits Gunners are lacking hunger ahead of crucial North London derby

There were contrasting responses to defeat from North London’s title-chasing clubs as they prepared to face each other on Saturday. “Sometimes it happens. They’re not robots. They are not machines,” said Mauricio Pochettino of Tottenham’s loss at West Ham United. “We lack a certain hunger,” said Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal’s more unexpected home reverse to Swansea City.

The Argentine manager’s response was a stock reply in these circumstances, not so the Chilean’s verdict.

It may be that Sanchez, who is struggling to regain his form after being absent with a hamstring injury, is looking for a reaction, as much from himself than his team-mates, with a few home truths. At last, perhaps, this is the leadership Arsenal fans have been craving.

Sanchez, speaking to to Directtv Sports, said: “I think we can win the league with the players we have but we lack a certain hunger. We need to step out on to the pitch as if we’re already 1-0 up.”

He added, of the 3-0 win over Manchester United in October: “The lads looked hungry for silverware as we took to the pitch. We crushed them in the first 20 minutes and went 3-0 up. We were hungry and brimming with confidence that day.” Sanchez has not scored against Premier League opposition since October, a run of nine starts and one substitute appearance.

He hit the woodwork twice on Wednesday, holding his head in his hands in disbelief after the second occasion.

Olivier Giroud, who also hit the bar, has not scored in 10 appearances in all competitions, eight of them starts, and manager Arsène Wenger admitted after the defeat to Swansea that the players may be lacking confidence.

Pochettino was not necessarily spouting platitudes. Tottenham’s last league defeat, at home to Leicester in January, was followed by seven wins in all competitions.

Upton Park was only their fourth defeat in 28 matches, 18 of them won. Given West Ham’s own form, Spurs still have every reason to be confident.

The difference is that Wednesday was the first time this season when a victory would have taken them to the top of the Premier League, but his team did not freeze, insisted Pochettino.

“It was not nerves, it was not the pressure to be at the top [of the table],” he said. “Our players are confident. It is difficult to play every game with the intensity and level we normally play.”

Having watched the match again and analysed it, he said he was much happier than at the time. “I think the level was good and we were unlucky not to score. Maybe we lacked sharpness but the second half was good, we controlled the game, we made chances.

“It was only one game, an exception. Sometimes it happens. They’re not robots. They are not machines. We play a lot of games and sometimes it’s difficult to keep the same level.”

Pochettino added that Mousa Dembélé may be fit to return and Dele Alli to start, but it was too early to say. Arsenal will be without Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny.