Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted that Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre-Villas 'deserved a second chance' to succeed in English football.

Villas Boas endured a turbulent time as manager of Chelsea and he was sacked after just 40 games in charge at Stamford Bridge, but Wenger believes that he would have still won admirers from his time with the West London club.

The Gunners boss told the club's official website: "He has done well. I think he has done well. Villas-Boas got a deserved second chance. Sometimes you get the second job because you got the first one.

"For example, it would have been maybe more difficult to get the Tottenham job if he had not had the Chelsea job before because people could watch him and see what he has done and speak to players who have worked with him.

"So, you have bit more of a guarantee than just importing someone from Portugal."

Spurs host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon as they look to extend their advantage over their North London rivals to seven points.