LONDON (AP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is counting on his club's intense local rivalry with Tottenham to get his players focused on their return to Premier League soccer after a two-week break.

The Gunners make the short trip to White Hart Lane today, trying to sustain their strong start to the season which was interrupted by a break for international matches.

Arsenal is unbeaten in the Premier League and Wenger (pictured) is confident the hostile atmosphere at Tottenham and passionate backing of the travelling fans will get his players firmly thinking about how to continue that run.

"It's important to strengthen the belief we have developed since the beginning of the season, to straight away get the right focus again," Wenger said. "It's a big game and straight away you have to be switched on."

There are seven more Premier League matches today, with all clubs in a similar position of trying to refocus their players after a long break.

Liverpool, which leads the standings ahead of Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton on goal difference, is at Portsmouth, Chelsea hosts Blackburn, and Everton hosts defending champion Manchester United.

Arsenal has not lost to its fierce north London rival in eight years, but Wenger needs to overcome the loss of William Gallas, Emmanuel Eboue and Jens Lehmann to injury, plus a suspension for Philippe Senderos.

With Gallas and Senderos missing, Gilberto Silva is likely to drop back from his usual central midfield role into defence. That could give Tottenham, which has England winger Aaron Lennon ready to return after injury, the chance to impose itself.

Lehmann pulled out of Germany's match against Romania on Wednesday because of an elbow injury, so Manuel Almunia will continue in goal.

"If we want to have a successful team, we have to deal with that (injuries) problem," Wenger said. "Tottenham has the same problem because (Dimitar) Berbatov, Robbie Keane, (Tom) Huddlestone and (Younes) Kaboul, all these players have played as well."

The match will be Wenger's first since he signed a new three-year contract to end speculation he would leave at the end of the season.

Having led Arsenal to three Premier League titles, the Frenchman already seems set to defy preseason predictions that the sale of Thierry Henry to FC Barcelona would lead to his team's demise.

At Tottenham, meanwhile, the board was embarrassed by the revelation that it discussed hiring Sevilla coach Juande Ramos to replace Martin Jol after Spurs lost their first two games.

Tottenham spent almost £40 million (US$80.7 million) since the end of last season in the hope of challenging Arsenal for a place in the top four of the Premier League but is already six points behind.

Jol has been boosted by the return of Michael Dawson, Kaboul and Gareth Bale from injury, and should also have striker Darren Bent back after he sat out the past two games with a thigh problem. With Lennon also set to return, Spurs should have close to a full-strength side.

"Aaron is Aaron, he always gives us a lot of width and speed," Jol said. "He will probably be lacking match practice, but on the other hand we overloaded him (in training) in the last couple of weeks so I think he will be fine."

Liverpool is enjoying its best start to a Premier League season and could have defender Jamie Carragher back after he missed two matches because of a broken rib. Manager Rafa Benitez may need to rest captain Steven Gerrard, a key figure in England's 3-0 wins over Israel and Russia, to ensure he is fully healed after a broken toe.

Benitez is unhappy that his team's match at Portsmouth starts more than two hours earlier than usual today, giving him less time to prepare his side after the international break.

"I will talk with the Premier League about this," Benitez said. "The players arrived back on Thursday evening and the only thing you can do with some of them is just to run a bit and send them home.

"(Yesterday) morning you will have a light training session and you will travel to Portsmouth. For me, it's impossible to prepare the team properly."

Chelsea could be without striker Didier Drogba, who damaged his knee in a surprise 2-0 loss at Aston Villa two weeks ago, and midfielder Frank Lampard because of a thigh injury. Blackburn, though, is one of just four unbeaten sides and drew 1-1 with Arsenal last month.

In today's other Premier League matches, Birmingham hosts Bolton, Sunderland hosts Reading, West Ham hosts Middlesbrough, and Wigan hosts Fulham.

Villa is at Manchester City tomorrow, while Newcastle is at Derby in Monday's game.