Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was pleased with the character of his team after the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur and admitted a point was a fair result.
The Gunners had to come from behind – just like the corresponding fixture last season – to earn a point which Wenger thought could, in the end, have been three.
Harry Kane put the visitors ahead in the first half before second-half substitute Kieran Gibbs equalised late on to salvage a share of the spoils.
Wenger said, on reflection, that he was happy with the outcome.
When you are 1-0 down it is a mixture of relief and regret.
We have shown character today because we were a bit on the ropes and we responded.
I think if we were really clinical we would have won it in the last 15 minutes but if I tried to be fair, I must say that the point is a fair result.
Arsenal started the game well but Tottenham dominated the majority of the first half, and deservedly took the lead when Kane latched onto a long ball from Danny Rose.
The England international cooly slotted past Cech and Wenger said Arsenal struggled in the opening period due to Santi Cazorla’s deterioration in health which disrupted the Gunners play in their engine room.
It was a very intense game with complete commitment from both sides. We suffered in the first half because Cazorla was at 30 per cent of his potential – he was dizzy.
I was sitting there thinking do I take him off or not? You never know, maybe it will get better. At half-time I took him off, and in the second half we had a bit better balance.
I just saw that Cazorla, who is usually the guide in our game, didin’t get the ball. And Tottenham is a good side when you play with one player less and you have to make the game …and so in the offensive build-up Ozil was a bit isolated in the first half with not many options. Usually they combine well together.
Gibbs was the surprise source of Arsenal’s equaliser as an unorthodox left winger.
It is something the Arsenal boss has had to resort to in recent weeks because of injuries and Wenger said it was that and his experience from his youth days which led to his introduction.
He played there when he was a kid. Always when he comes on, he balances our team.
I had very limited offensive options on the bench. It gave me as well an opportunity to put Alexis on the other side where he could give me a different option.
Overall it worked, but he gets in good positions and shows he is an intelligent player.
Arsenal started the game knowing a victory would take them to outright leaders at the top of the table.
Despite not taking that opportunity, the Frenchman didn’t view the failure to capitalise as a negative.
You can say that to City as well.
I think if you look at a longer distance in the last six games we’ve had five wins and one draw so overall I am disappointed that we haven’t won the game but if you look at the recent period as a block it can happen that in six games you can drop points.
