Arsene Wenger spoke to Sky Sports after watching his side extend their unbeaten run in the league to ten games with a 3-1 win at Hull City.
He was, as you might expect, on good form.
On the performance…
I’m very happy with the performance because we had a fluent game, [we were] pacey, created many chances. The amazing thing is that the [first] two goals we scored were deflections and the clear cut chances we had we didn’t score. Overall, you can see we have a good dynamic in the team and that our game was very good.
On Cazorla and Ramsey…
They were influential on the goals and on the build-up of the game. In midfield we played very well. Ozil had a great game as well. Overall, we know when these players work well we have chances.
On Alexis Sanchez’s scoring record…
Yes [I’m surprised], because I expected him to be more of a provider than a goal scorer. Especially as well because I play him on the flank where you have less chances. He has the timing and the quality of his runs are very good. He gets into good areas to finish.
On frustration at the good run coming so late in the season…
Yes, of course [it’s frustrating] but all of these players were not available at the start of the season. Many came back with problems after the World Cup. We’ve [since] found a better balance going forward and in defence in the second part of the season.
On his squad evolving this summer…
We have a big squad and we have to see now how we finish. We have to focus on how we finish and then we’ll see what we can do. The basis is there.
On what he meant by ‘revising’ his transfer plans for the summer…
It was just to get out of a tricky question in the press conference maybe. What I mean is that we do not need to buy a number of players. If we find top world class players we’ll look at it, but we have a strong squad already in numbers. Now we to stay together and start well next season.
On scoring 100 goals in all competitions…
The worst thing for a manager who loves attacking football is to attack and not score. I am pleased! What you want first is to win the games and on that front, when I speak about balance we are today more solid defensively.
On being optimistic for the future…
Look, I’m always optimistic. In our job, if you’re pessimistic, you don’t go far. I feel that we have made progress. Chelsea is a worthy winner of the Premier League because they have been the most consistent team of all. Let’s finish well and prepare well for next season and then give them a good fight.
I know Arsenal have had many false dawns since The Invincibles, but I really feel this time we have finally CLICKED.
There’s something special about this starting 11.
Keep the squad together, bar Poldi, Campbell, one or two additions and we are flying. Wilshere looked great, Walcott is picking up, Welbeck not even on the bench.
Good time to be a Gooner.
Hey I like Campbell
I like my girlfriend, that doesn’t mean she should play for Arsenal.
Podolski with the right attitude can add something to this Arsenal team, coming on late with fresh legs to grab an extra goal. Given that he’s competing against fucking Sanchez against that left-winger spot and that this team is looking pretty damn amazing, he might actually be content with being a super-sub now. He wasn’t before, but I can kinda understand his frustration of not getting game-time when the first team wasn’t performing at all. Hard to say though, and that’s something the manager and people who see him in training have to evaluate. Dead impossible to know from the… Read more »
I love Poldi as much as the next guy but he’s just not good enough for us, players like him & Campbell will need to leave, holding on to players of their quality (good but just not good enough for us) is what held us back for years, up until the summer just gone we had a ridiculous amount of deadwood players who should have been offloaded a long while ago
This. We have had many false dawns since 2004. There was the Fabregas era with some fantastic young players who came into the side that gave us all hope, before they all came good for 1 season and wanted to leave the club in the following season. We partially have Manchester City at fault for that who came in with ridiculous money to buy Clichy, Toure, Adebayor, Nasri etc. Then we have the season when Eduardo had his leg snapped in two, Gallas sulking on the pitch wearing the captain’s armband and so on. I’ve said it before, since the… Read more »
The difference between now and then is that now we have a team of players who look nice on the outside, but are actually mentally strong and professional. Beforehand we had a collection of spoiled brats who tried to look tough but always capitulated when it mattered (the likes of Nasri, RvP, Barca-DNA). It’s easier for the team to click when there isn’t each year a leaver who brings doubt from the inside.
At risk recruiting another player familiar with the treatment room, I wouldn’t mind seeing Khedira somewhere in that midfield. Maybe we could play a 0-10-0 formation to fit all our midfielders into the side.
Yes. Otherwise you dont just win 8 games in a row[best winning run in the league this year].
I think next season is gunner be a good one.
.. coat & hat please.
Just your coat, I’m keeping your hat as tax.
ozil did have a great game. in the second half especially he had some amazing touches. most of our players played really well today to be honest.
anyone hear gary neville react to arsene’s comments? haha wow. jamie carragher is miles closer to reality than that guy..
what did gary neville say ?
Neville has slipped back this season. Tactical analysis is always interesting but he now uses lazy soundbites such as Arsenal not being able to win big games (City and Utd away Gary?) and being soft when the evidence no longer supports this. Clearly feels Coq is not good enough when he gas been better than Matic for the last 3-4 months ( and I think Matic is Chelsea’s best player along with Hazard).
I love listening to Arsene’s conferences. Easily the most eloquent manager in the league. Full of class, full of charisma. There’s no-one like him.
Compare Arsene to donkeys like van Gaal and Mourinho and it’s easy to see the difference.
Some managers get handed a shedload of money. Some managers build a stadium.
Done and dusted….. who is next???? swans wat?????
Wenger did point out to that 100 goal milestone that Liverpool and Cuty have achieved. I think he earmarked that for us this season. Brilliant.
Liverpool and Man City scored 100 goals just in the Premier League last season, Arsenal are only on 66. City scored 156 goals in all competitions last year.
I don’t understand the need for sensationalism regarding the recent transfer quotes. The squad is deep and doesn’t need to 4,5,6 players to realistically challenge. Wenger can, for the first time in a long time, look for 1-2 exceptional players that will exceed the talent we currently have and the customary 1-2 prospects for the future. It’s a great position to be in. There’s a deep, talented squad who’s learning to play, win and attain trophies together. It was nice to see the boys continue to press the gas, keep form and show a matured professionalism in how they’re closing… Read more »
For some strange reason I have the feeling he won’t spend big this summer… Then next summer if needed we can drop a shit load for a player we otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford (60-70 mill).
On why Mourinho is a cunt…
Well… some individuals are just cunts…
I LOL’d at this one
I wish we could have one whole season, from August to May, where we had nearly all our players fit. Obviously small niggles here and there, and suspensions keep players out in every single team, but our injury woes have been absurd. Of course, having nearly everyone fit means that competition becomes intense in the every single position, and a manager has tough decisions to make. But that’s a good problem to have. It raises the level of the entire squad, although egos do get bruised somewhere. Next year, it will be interesting to see how our intra-team competition evolves-… Read more »
I think it’s worth noting after that game (although possibly prematurely…) at how the raised level of the squad with the new additions affects players that have been at Arsenal for some time. Jack has had to sit out for some time, whilst he had a bright start to the season, he did find himself getting a bit sloppy, maybe due to injury, I wouldn’t be able to say. But he has been sitting on the side lines watching this team transform into something else this 2nd half of the season and in his cameo tonight, he looked like a… Read more »
I love Arsenal. Going forward Sanchez should learn to pass the ball early and accurately.
Some guy on my stream (American TV I believe) said that Arsenal are actually better than Chelsea, but the latter are just more consistent (note that it’s easier to be consistently boring than fluid in this sport). I don’t think the guy’s exaggerating. If we can find the consistency (and anti-injury miracle medicine) that Wenger’s been claiming for all these years, we’ll challenge hard for the PL and even the CL. We can give the likes of Barca and Bayern, at the top of their form, a run for their money so there’s no way we should be dominated by… Read more »
My Sky had problems before the match which led me to fumbling across the internet for ‘other’ means to watch the game. When Ozil pulled off that flick, Martin Tyler simply stated “that’s incredible, he actually meant to do that”. I can only imagine the silence from the commentators on Sky when he pulled that off, as they tried hard to think of something negative to say. The visual quality may not have been on par with my usual viewing, but fuck me does the audio make it ten times better not having to listen to clueless fuckwits drone on… Read more »
On this side of the pond, NBC has been doing a great job in regards to… Basically everything. But as the sport garners more viewers, inevitably loathsome espn and co will buy their way in. Hopefully this will setup a great precedence and standard all others to emulate.
And Rebecca Lowe isn’t too hard on the eyes or ears 😉
That’s Bein sports. You could also turn off the sound on your telly and listen to the match day show on Arsenal Player.
@Alexstratz, “a little cunt team like chelsea”, take a bow son !
And we’ll do it with absolutely no financial doping either!
We’re so freaking good right now the only way you are gonna get subbed is if you score and get a sublime assist.
“Now we to stay together and start well next season” …Walcott Rosicky hear! hear!
Media currently exaggerating the gap between us and Chelsea. It is not as big as it seems. Considering form since start of this calender year when we had the Meterscielny partnership back, had we done the right thing and invested in a Cback (Gabriel) last summer, we would have likely not shed the ten points (which really only represent two losses and two draws) On current form with the Cback last year, we would have been more than able to have won those ten points It is therefore not that Chelsea have been solid but that we have gifted them… Read more »
…and considering media branded us a one man team (They must again have gotten confused with the pretenders that reside in North London), we have scored a rather large amount of goals. Alexis for his part has more assists and goals than Hazard so I’m not sure on what matrix the “Best Player of the season” has been awarded to Hazard. Ozil has had more assist, chance created and key passes than Coutinho but the Liverpool bias media will of course deem it fit to put Coutinho in the team of the season ahead of the frankly scintillating Ozil. And… Read more »
The PFA player of the year and team of the year are voted for by other PL players and not the media.
So that kinda puts that conspiracy theory to bed
Something good is already happening, something better is in store. I love this team; their chemistry is a beauty to behold.
Ozil makes me scream like a two year old.
If iam a girl, I will do everything possible to marry Ozil
You better have a quick check and find out if you are then 🙂
2nd place finish, won against both Manchester team and Liverpool, only concede 2 goal against chelsea. Still have FA cup to come, if that’s not progress I don’t know what is.
I loved how Jack came on and in 10 mins showed the haters and doubters how good he is when fit. How he gives us something different from midfield from our other midfielders.
Stay fit Jackie boy and stay at Arsenal.
I didnt like d fact Rosicky didnt play any part. And i feel Walcott is nt used to the Automatisms
A good game last night. Only blot is the goal we conceded. This team has gelled well. Hope we keep the momentum going till the end of the season. Putting Manu to the sword & the FA cup will be progress. Next time we’ll have the measure of Chelski. Upwards and onwards. COYG!!!