Arsene Wenger has praised the character of his team after they twice came from behind to secure a point in a 2-2 draw with Man City yesterday.
Goals from Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez cancelled out City strikes from Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne, leaving the Arsenal manager pleased with the response of his players.
“It was a very intense game where we had a difficult start because Manchester City came out very strong,” he said.
“We suffered a little, but every time we went down we showed character and came back twice in the game. Overall, I think Manchester City had good intensity in the game and there were a few times when we were in trouble.”
Arsenal could finish as high as second if results go our way, but avoiding defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday would secure a top three finish – meaning no Champions League qualifier in August.
Wenger urged his team not to take anything for granted though.
“It is in our hands now,” he continued, “but we have seen again today that we just want to finish the job with the result.
“That shows you that we have to focus and keep the focus. It is important to maintain that. We have had strong concentration in recent games and our character has been questioned a few times this season.
“We gave the right response today on the pitch, but you have to say if you look we have the best results against the top-four teams. That doesn’t come without character.”
If we finish above Spuds it’d be hilarious!?
You’re too easily pleased
A couple of weeks ago we were shitting ourselves over the very real prospect of Spurs winning the league. Compare that to today where, if Sunderland lose to Everton midweek, Spurs will play a relegation threatened Newcastle as motivated as ever, cordially lose and proceed in our shadow.
It’s like fearing you are going to be fired before a performance meeting and coming out promoted. And your snooty coworker saying you’re too easily pleased because they didn’t make you CEO.
I am getting so bored of all the negativity at the moment, it is so relentless. So the fans are moaning no matter what result and how the team performs, and I get that they dont want to sound hypocritical and seem as if they’re back tracking when the team do okay under Arsene, but come on, like just give it a rest now. Seeing all of those videos floating round online of Arsenal fans fighting each other in the crowd?! Like what!? That was the best part of being a fan, travelling to the away days, going to a… Read more »
Love the analogy, lol.
St Totteringham’s Day on the last day? I’ll have that please. Come on you Gunners!!!
Is ozil injured or has he just not being willing to sign a new contract?
What did I tell you last week Greg? Fuck off to Chelsea, that’s what.
Fingers crossed for a rosicky hat trick and a final flamini yellow card / jabby finger point!
Would love to see Rozza and Arteta play one more time..are you certain Rozza will play?
Mate I would love to see Rozzer play.
I’m tired of hearing of this teams fucking character. 19 wins out of 37 for a team that talks of winning a title, proves they lack character more than anything.
Thierry, are you aware that only one side has won more than 19 so far this season?
Seems to be a lot of lack of character in the PL this year.
As much as I hate to agree, you’ve got a point there…
While I’m chatting with you Thierry, please cease and desist with this commentary crap. I only want to smile when I think of you..
I’m hoping for a 2 point deduction for sp*rs and then I’ll laugh my old ass off as we glide into second place.
They should start every season on -114 points simply because they’re Sp*rs.
do we get a trophy for having the best record against top 4 teams? seriously though i am kidding. In the last decade we have gone into these kind of games full of dread and this season we have shown a vast improvement in this regard. Shame it had to be ruined by our record against lower teams. For me, the positive is that we clearly have the technical ability to beat everyone in the league for the first time in ages. the negative is that we dont have the mentality to sustain it against smaller clubs.
Am I the only one getting worried at Cech’s slowness to get down to low shots. I think a more sprightly goalkeeper might have saved both of the Man City goals yesterday
Cech gets down at the near post like old people fuck…..
We needed more focus when top of the PL in January, that’s when we blew it.
We were consistently inconsistent throughout the season, from the very first game on we were a mixed up bag of great, average and poor. Only a handful of games were we really able to turn it on up front at the same time as not conceding. 5/10 Must do better
You can be disappointed at not being champions and still take great pleasure in finishing above the Spuds, when they thought they had it in the bag (as it were)
Agree cech has pulled a few games out the fire for us this season, but he’s beginning to look vulnerable to some shots.
He’s let in more long range goals than any other keeper in the league. Of course it doesn’t help when your defence stands off and allows quality players to pick their spot, unimpeded.
Man City spent the entire match kicking us with impunity from a total homer of a ref. We showed great control and calmness in the face of physical provocation.
Please Wenger…we needed to win this match in other to stand a chance to beat Spuds to second place. Well then again, if we didn’t flop against newcastle, Sunderland and swansea, that would’ve been 4 more points easily achievable.
Or get f*cked by Mike Dean and lose three points against Chelsea.
Good God does he ever have a day off spouting this rubbish?
We have got zero character that’s why we bottle every big game we’re involved in, unless it’s part of the glorious annual race for fourth to trigger his salary bonus payments
Another interesting weekend. The draw flattered us: we probably deserved to narrowly lose yesterday. But we’ll take the point. And as even we can’t fail to beat the diabolical Aston Villa, third place is now more or less assured. But the really big talking point was Mesurt Ozil. It looks like he’s played his last game for us. I guess the idea of continuing to play for a club with no ambition other than to make money no longer appeals to the German. What a silly man. But don’t worry: Ozil’s departure won’t be announced until the very last minute… Read more »
I love arsenal. I love wenger
Fatgooner, it must really make you sick when the team you claim to support (Arsenal) has a positive result. You expect Ozil, Sanchez and Hector to leave and Theo to stay on? Ultimately, you would be happy if there was a meltdown at Arsenal so you could say “I told you so”. Is your pride and reputation online (to a bunch of people who don’t know you) mean more than Arsenal? Your interpretation of love is wicked
No, Kolu, I’m just bored of season after season of mediocrity. I’d be delighted if Wenger goes now with us in the top four: a new manager would have a lot to work with.
But another season of this sh1t would be unbearable.
Is it me or did the Kos set the tone with that air swipe in the opening minutes? We just looked like a pissed up pub team after that.