Arsene Wenger has challenged Arsenal to build on their eye-catching 3-0 victory over Chelsea by repeating the performance against Champions League opponents Basel tomorrow evening.
At full time on Saturday the manager reflected that his players had delivered a ‘near perfect’ first half performance and he now hopes they can continue to balance style and steel as they look to build further momentum in the coming weeks.
Speaking to press at London Colney, Wenger said: “It’s our target [to top the group] but the truth is on the pitch. We had a good game on Saturday but let’s show that we can go from good game to good game and put the effort in, in every single game. That’s what it is about.
“In recent years we came always out of the group stage. Last year, let’s say it was difficult because we made it difficult for ourselves and we have learned as well that in the group stage it’s not only important to qualify but, if possibly, qualify as top of the group. It gives you many more chances after to go through.
“The win over Chelsea puts us in a consistent way. We respected the way we want to play and for us to score goals in big games gives us confidence. What pleased me most was the relentless team energy, the fact that we kept going no matter what the result was, and that we respected what we planned together. That’s a sign of maturity.”
He added: “Our game is about style and steel, and we combined both. That was pleasing. Every time it’s a new challenge but I believe the humility is to accept that you have to start from scratch again and show another performance. It might be a completely different game but we have to find the resources to win the game again.”
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This video Kostafi taking out Costa over and over again is extremely satisfying.
Have watched this a couple of time today. Very pleasing.
I specifically like the one where, I don’t know if it was kos or mus, easily could have just cleared the ball but waited for Diego to get to it first before taking his legs out.
They did seem to be taking the piss out of him a bit didn’t they
Did I get moderated for saying “you see you next Tuesday”?
Oh my goodness, what a wonderful interlude and that soundtrack!
My heart is full of joy…
Have that Costa you cunt!
Bloggs you should allow you c if Costa is in the sentence? 🙂
Thank you for making my day!
Also loved the backround music, very apt.
I am not fully convinced by the Chelsea game. I think Conte set his team up all wrong to play us. In the 2 games we really struggled, Liverpool and PSG, the managers played a heavy pressing game higher up and had attacking fullbacks. Chelsea didnt have the personel to press fast properly with Fabregas and Hazard and even Matic who is slow. Their fullbacks are terrible going forward as well. Chelsea put no pressure on Cazorla and let him do what he wanted. Just be aware of teams that are more mobile and able to press high quickly. We… Read more »
Do you have to live so relentlessly in the real world!?
^^^^^Comment of the day Sir!
Well there’s a nice cold bucket of negativity to throw over our positive fire. Look at the players missing for the bindippers game, and we actually drew 1-1 in Paris. Although beating the chavs 3-0 was a bit poor.
I think we’ve improved a lot since the Liverpool game where we started without Ozil, Mustafi, Koscienly or Cazorla and Sanchez was only just learning how to be a lone CF. We’ve also steadily improved since the PSG game. You’re right about high pressing teams having an advantage over teams that slowly build from the back but if we can speed up our play from the back like against Chelsea, and do some pressing of our own, we should be able to counter that. The issue is we’ve been here before, the 3-0 against united, and for whatever reason we… Read more »
I’m sorry, in which delusional universe are Fabregas Hazard and Willian slow?
All you speak of is failings. When we succeed it is because of the opponent’s failings, when we struggle it is because of ours. It strikes me as a very negative way to look at football. Could it not be that we walked all over Chelsea because we, Arsenal, were really bloody good on the day?
Its not negative, its proactive. I am just giving fair warning that we won partly because the tactics were set up incorrectly against us.
If we had won when the tactics were not ideal to play against, I would be more confident of winning regardless of opposition.
Just be aware that we are very susceptable to high pressure and agressive fullbacks
Such a fair point but please leave the worrying to Arsene as many of us are still partying with a devil-may-care attitude following the result against Chelshit.
Thank you. 🙂
I would counter that by saying that we are very quick on the break these days and the higher an opposition’s full backs push, the more susceptible they become to that.
We are susceptible to the high press when ox is playing as he doesn’t track back full backs and to a lesser degree when Ramsey and Coq are playing as they lack the composure of Elneny, Cazorla or Xhaka.
We’re much less susceptible when Theo and Xhaka are playing as the quick outlet is available and scares the shit out of the opposition. I think when Perez settles will have yet another speedy outlet option.
This comment thread was very enjoyable – arguments based on facts about football. Thanks a lot
I’m not trying to propose a combination here, but didn’t wenger just said
“combining Santi and Granite, that’s out game?
On the converse, Here is what Ox has to say. The first line is particularly such prevarication.. http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160927/-my-mindset-is-to-go-for-everything-
” Last year, let’s say it was difficult because we made it difficult for ourselves and we have learned as well that in the group stage it’s not only important to qualify but, if possibly, qualify as top of the group. It gives you many more chances after to go through.” He only figured that out last year?!
I think he was making 2 separate points.
In a combining style and steel stylee?
It’s interesting that Wenger has mentioned “style and steel” a few times over the past few days..it sounds like the team is finally developing an identity after a few years of not really having one
As mentioned during the transfer window, not sure what all the hysterics was about from some of the fan base. Wenger is one of the best in the business in market. Whether he buys enough premium is of course an issue, but there was no doubt he was going to spend. Starting with the early panic buy Granit who has been excellent but also Mustafi (when you compare to SideshowBOb at CHelsea for 34m…the press forgetting to factor in conveniently the money they spent on his unreliability the first time round) And Lucas to come. He was a bit more… Read more »
I love the “style and skill” thing me.
Too many BOSSES in one photo! #COYG!
“Two many” would have been acceptable as well 🙂
I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU SAY, we made the Chelsea team look as bad as they did with outstanding performances all over the pitch. A few changes for Basil tonight is understandable, but we need to steam roll them tonight and let everybody else in Europe know we are serious about winning the champions league this year as well as the Prem. The worst thing we can do now is what we have done in previous years which is have 1 good/promising result then retreat within ourselves for a couple of games. We need our leaders to keep everybody positive… Read more »
yes more steel please. When we play a high tempo game, pressurising and closing down the opposition quickly, most teams find us unplayable. City & Utd last season being prime examples but we only tend to do it 2-3 games a season.