Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger met with the press to discuss Arsenal’s 3-0 win against rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
The boss was pleased with his team, who showed up after suffering a difficult loss against Olympiacos at home on Tuesday night.
We won our last Premier League game 5-2 and we won here 3-0 so in the Premier League we have scored eight goals in two games against two difficult opponents.
Overall it was a convincing performance. It was a strong response against Manchester United following our disappointment on Tuesday night.
It shows the group is very united and very strong as well and from goalkeeper to No 9 everybody played very well, which is what you want.
The Frenchman praised his unit, who had an overall good performance and stated that Alexis Sanchez was the player that stood out in today’s match.
Everybody was very good today. Alexis was very efficient on top of that.
The gaffer also talked about the different sides his team had in the two halves of the game.
That is what you want in games of that stature. I believe in the [first half] we started very strong and decided to press very high and play with great pace, and we did that very well.
After in the second half we decided to be disciplined, control the result and we did that very well.
We had two aspects in our game that was pleasing and we were convincing today. It gives us a strong answer to all the questions raised in the week.
Wenger was delighted with the win against the Red Devils and believes that Arsenal won because they put in the right performance.
We won last year in a very important FA Cup game at Old Trafford, so we won last year. For us it was a massive game when we were in the FA Cup.
It is true that they won here last year and it is true as well that for a few years in the Premier League we did not win against them but it just shows if you turn up with the right performance you win.
The long-serving manager also discussed Arsenal’s ability to bounce back after a disappointment and how they perform well under pressure.
I’ve been at the club for 19 years and I know what you want is a strong response in a big game when you have a big disappointment. But we [took it in] perspective and focused on what it is important.
It’s us and not too much what was said and we focused on what is important in the game and that is part of being at the top level.
The pressure on any disappointment today is massive and it’s maybe a little bit more difficult to deal with it but we did well.
Wenger talked about Walcott, who had an outstanding game, despite not scoring today.
I must say Walcott had a hugely committed performance today in a hugely convincing way. He didn’t score but I like to praise the strikers when they don’t score and contribute and give assists.
He was involved in two goals – Ozil’s and Alexis’ [second] one. He did really fight today and showed he can fight, commit and protect the ball as well.
He is gaining some aspects of his game as a centre-forward and they are improving.
He also talked about how Walcott is starting to convince in a central striker position.
Yes, I was always. You were not convinced.
When a guy plays well it is always easy to find people who were convinced.
He also explained that Alexis’ injury was a minor one.
He has a little groin problem. Unfortunately he goes to Chile.
You cannot stop him from going to Chile and he loves so much to play for his country and he will play against Brazil [on Friday] and Peru [next] Tuesday so the game at home against Brazil he will not want to miss. Hopefully he will come back in good shape.
Brendan Rodgers’ sacking saddens Wenger, who believes that Premier League managers are under a lot of pressure.
I’m always sad when that happens as I think he is a quality manager. Unfortunately the pressure is always bigger on the managers. I think what he has done at Liverpool, he was very unlucky to not win the Premier League.
He was closest certainly to winning the Premier League in all the managers that have been working for the club but that is the way it goes now and I wish him good luck. I’m sure he will find a job again.
The Arsenal manager also honoured Bellerin, who came back strong after a mediocre performance midweek.
He has improved defensively and I think his defensive performance was average against Olympiacos, like most of our players on Tuesday night.
On that front we responded very well and he was part of that. He is very good in transition from defence to attack but even in the air he was good today and he won some surprising headers.
He is 20 years old and when you look at what he is doing already I think he has a great future.
Wenger is also worried about the international break and hopes his players won’t suffer any injuries while playing for their countries and believes this Arsenal side are genuine title contenders and can go all the way.
My plan is to pray now that everyone comes back from international games without any injury because we have a small group. We play at Watford straight away and on Tuesday night here against Bayern Munich.
We will need the same kind of performance.
To win in a big game is always a statement. We are in in it, we are two points off the league leaders, Manchester City, so I hope that result today will give us belief to fight for it.
