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The two north London rivals clash at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, and the Englishman feels that his opponents' supporters should remember the club's success under his tenure

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has backed Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger, but claims that the Frenchman has become "one of the biggest nutters of all" in the Premier League.

The Gunners manager has come under fire from sections of his own support after a campaign that promised so much on several fronts fell apart, leaving the side facing the prospect of a seventh consecutive trophyless season.

But Redknappp is dumbfounded by Arsenal fans who hit out at the club's boss, and pointed to the 61-year-old's achievements since taking over in 1996, having won three league titles and four FA Cups.

Redknapp said: "I don't understand how they can criticise him. They have had fantastic success and play great football.

"He managed a team that went a whole season unbeaten. What an achievement that was. That was amazing to do that. He has won enough trophies at Arsenal already. He doesn't need another to have vindication, surely. His record stands up anyway.''

However, Redknapp, whose Spurs side take on Arsenal at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night, believes that the Frenchman – who was involved in a spat with Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish after a late penalty award dented Arsenal's title hopes on Sunday – has allowed the pressure of English football to get to him.

He continued: "Suddenly when Arsenal started to lose he became one of the biggest nutters of all.

"He is jumping around more than anyone now. That's how [the pressure] gets to you. We all do it. It's wanting to win."

The former West Ham boss went on to describe fans who phone radio stations to bemoan poor results as "idiots".

"If you lose a few games some people call these silly phone-ins and say: 'They were rubbish today, they were absolutely useless' when they weren't even at the game, they were listening to it on the radio or shopping with the wife," he said.

"I don't listen to them. I'll turn the radio on and put Magic FM on instead. I want to listen to some music. I don't want to listen to a bunch of idiots. They must have sad lives.''

Tottenham currently lie in fifth place in the Premier League, three points behind Manchester City in the final Champions League spot, while the pressure is on Arsenal to win every game until the end of the season if they are to catch up with leaders Manchester United, and Redknapp acknowledged the added importance of Wednesday's game.

He said: "We need a win desperately. Arsenal have to win all of their games now and we will need most of our games to make the top four."