Arsene Wenger says Arsenal’s penalty shootout victory over Chelsea is encouraging but insists it’s up to his squad to maintain the positive atmosphere inside the club when the new Premier League season kicks off.
The Gunners picked up their first silverware of the season courtesy of a 4-1 victory on penalties, however, having made poor starts to domestic campaigns in recent years the boss is wary of getting carried away.
“It’s an encouragement and nothing more than that,” Wenger told press at Wembley.
“We want to find a good balance between the confidence we can get out of these games and the urgency that every Premier League game demands.
“We had some bad starts in the first game of the Premier League over the last four years but we’ve had the intensity in our games that is needed to be ready.
“Let’s go into the Premier League with the same discipline, the same spirit, and see where we can go. If you look at the Premier League, there’s seven or eight teams who you can say can win the Premier League, so it makes it very interesting.”
On today’s performance, he added: “I’m very happy because we won the trophy. The quality of the game was very good and the two teams gave absolutely everything.
“The two teams played with a lot of intensity and quality. Even when we were 1-0 down, we didn’t panic and kept control of our game to come back. Overall, the performance is a continuity of what we did at the end of last season. ”
Not for the first time, Wenger also admitted that last season’s sour attitude on the terraces was in part down to his wavering over signing a new contract.
“Yes, it’s down to us to keep a positive atmosphere around the team. I think a lot was created by my own situation and maybe I made a mistake, but overall I believe that it’s down to us – the strength always comes from the team.”
We did well v last year’s champions. And without Sanchez, Ozil, Ramsey, Kos, Mustafi and Santi. So can be better still.
WENGER OUT!
😀
Hope for a strong start and a consistent step up of quality from certain players like welbz, ox and Ramsey. Hoping Lacazette settles in quick too.
For what is worth, I believe we are already fairly a strong side going into the season.
Lemar should be an added spice.
Looking forward to the start of the new season now!
Losing the first game is almost a tradition these days though
Guys, Alexis applauded the crowd and put his thumbs up! What a guy!
I watched that and got a horrible feeling he was waving goodbye. Seriously hope I was wrong.
Glad we won and all, but positive vibes isn’t going to fill the gaps in the team. Get Lemar/Mahrez and Seri. Then we can talk. Apparently we’re linked with Lucas Moura. I really hope it’s false. Only want Lemar as a winger
So all these thumbs down means we don’t need any new players. Strange.
It’s the same people you felt “cohesion”, “automatism”, “team spirit” and Cech was all we needed to win the league back in 15/16 season. We all saw how well that worked out.. infact, we’re still suffering from that poor window.
Try to enjoy the good days as they happen. You’ll be more fun to be around 😉
If Alexis stays, where would Lemar/Mahrez even play? We need a CM, otherwise we will need to sell some players before buying
I mean we lost to this lot in Beijing but won it when it mattered.
I think what it says about us is we are mercurial. On the day we can beat anyone. Its consistency that has been lacking.
If we can rotate efficiently and find the consistency, we can compete for the title.
Wenger was tinkering in Beijing. Players out of position and all. You can’t use Beijing to judge the team. Overall I think this might just be Arsenal’s season. The prospect of the trio of Lacazette,Sanchez and Ozil upfront is mouthwatering. The famed efficiency of Lacazette in front of goal will stand the team in good stead.
Let’s Premier League hope Premier League they Premier League keep Premier League flowing. Premier League.
Buying Lemar would be a great piece to add going into the new season. Positive vibes indeed.