Arsene Wenger says Arsenal’s clean sheet against Stoke pleased him as much as his side’s attacking fluency as the Gunners ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Emirates.
Laurent Koscielny gave the home side an early lead before Alexis Sanchez netted twice either side of the break on an afternoon that saw the visitors restricted to only two shots at David Ospina’s goal.
Speaking after the game, Wenger underlined why keeping the Potters at bay will help boost the confidence of his defence.
“It [our attacking prowess] is one aspect of the game that is very positive because it shows that we have offensive potential.
“Football is a game where you have to be realistic as well because we have to stop conceding goals and that’s why today hopefully will improve our defenders’ confidence.
“We have another big game next week and we want to combine being dangerous going forward and being tight at the back.
“The defenders came in very happy today because they didn’t concede a goal. Our last away game at Southampton, we were not at the level.
He added: “When you play at home – our pitch is perfect even in winter – you can move the ball well when you have so many technical players on the pitch. It is an advantage for us.
“What was important for me is that we kept a good concentration to play the game how we want to play and also that we kept a clean sheet at the back.”
Arsenal next travel to Manchester City against whom we shipped six goals last season at the Etihad. It would good to keep them to at least half that this season…that way Alexis’ impending double hat trick will ensure a victory, rather than a draw.
Ozil, Rosicky, Cazorla, Sanchez, Walcott + perfect pitch + Coquelin = Awesome
Orc slaying at its finest – now to put the Mancs to the barrell of the cannon
COYG
Not sure I want to see Walcott too heavily involved at the Etihad – he’s still a way away from finding his rhythm and this is a game we could have a really good go at.
If we go with the team we put out yesterday, and they don’t explode in front of our faces, we could win it.
Good point on Walcott. We cant afford to miss a single chance on goal. He should come off the bench if needed.
‘The pitch is perfect even in winter’
What pride he must have taken from that sentence!
Unlike Mordor type of pitch there at Britannia… Fookin Orcs
problem is, we are hurt too easily by bad pitches because of the nature of our game. Shouldn’t be a problem at Man City. Vengeance for last season’s debacle is a must! COYG!!!
I’m inclined to agree. Seeing Sanchez run train on them is awesome, but going through a whole 90 minutes without that foreboding feeling of dread is nice too.
With Debuchy out for a large part of what is left of the season can we not simply recall Jenkinson from West Ham ? It seems a no brainer but is there a reason why we can’t ?
We don’t have that option. Its a season long loan with no clause (like that).
Why bring Jenks back when we’ve got Chambers and Bellerin to cover Debuchy?
Mostly due to having two guys to cover him, and both of those looking as good as Jenks ever did.
That’s enough reason for me, anyway.
Atlest it seems like ospina is keeping his place#Great times ahead#
He was nicknamed the wall and had the highest save % in Europe last season, conceding 27 goals and keeping 15 clean sheets playing behind a defense nowhere near As solid As ours was last season. So i think it is fair to give him a go As number 1 and really kickstart the duel between him and Szczesny.
“…we shipped six goals last season at the Etihad. It would good to keep them to at least half that this season…that way Alexis’ impending double hat trick will ensure a victory, rather than a draw…”
hmmm…if Alexis registers a double hat-trick indeed, I suppose we can still ensure victory by conceding just 1 less goal than last season instead of halving that 😉
We could even concede all six as long as Per nets his customary bicycle kick
The wealth of attacking talent makes it even more frustrating that we’re so avoidably short defensively. Can’t help but think of what could have been if we’d had one or two more defensive reinforcements to call upon. Season’s far from over though!!
“oooooooooooooooSPINA!!” Love that one!
I really really hope he plays Bellerun at RB at the Etihad ahead of Chambers. I know he’s a bit raw but I think his pace and mobility suits that position far better than Chambers. If Chambers plays there I have now doubt that he will be targeted as a weak link by the opposition despite the fact I think he’s a quality prospect as a future CB.
I think that we’ll be targeted on that side if we play either of them. That was one thing I noticed during the game on Sunday – Stoke didn’t even try to pressure Bellerin specifically. Their complete lack of game plan and of even a modicum of attacking talent saw them give up pretty fast, but we can’t expect that next week. I’m not trying to take away from Bellerin’s performance at all, we just have to be aware that City will probably keep pounding down that side until he’s either tired, made a mistake, or both.
It’s just as well Coquelin didn’t push up too often then.
We all know you don’t keep clean sheets when you’ve got your Coq in the box all afternoon.
10 points sir, bravo!
Lets do it again next week
Then we can praise
A good result coming Sunday will go a long way in setting us up for the customary 4th place. Chelsea needs to drop points from now on, cause, I really don’t want them to win anything…
All to savour in our last match..
Champahne Football!
3 Goals scored!
No goals conceaded!
Ooospina in goal!
The Coq’s best game ever!
Ozil’s comeback!
Mesmerizing Sanchez!
Per proves he’s no Rhino!
Wenger smiles!
Anautovic looks like a clit…..!
If we can find some semblance of defensive stability, we are going to kill teams with the options we have up front. If we can keep the defense tight (with another option at Cback), we will be putting 3, 4, 5 or more goals past most teams. We are starting to see pairings when attacking. Alexis on his flank with Monreal. Ox on his with Bellerin. Santi with Giroud, Rosicky with just about anyone (and yes he played closer to Coquelin which made it more solid for us, have a look at the game again) There seems to be also… Read more »