Arsene Wenger has denied suggestions that his team has a habit of falling away in March.
This month got off to a bad start for Arsenal with a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City and tough fixtures against Everton, Bayern Munich, Tottenham, Chelsea, Swansea City and Manchester City are scheduled before April.
But in fact March is statistically Wenger's strongest month in the Premier League with a 68.85 per cent win rate, and he was quick to correct a reporter who thought otherwise at his pre-match press conference.
"What is different is that we are in a better position... the second thing is that we are ready for a battle'"
"No, I don't agree with you [that we dip in March]," he said. "[The lack of trophies] has nothing to do [with it] because you can lose the championship in October. If you can show me with numbers that in March we have dipped away, we can have a conversation."
Wenger also feels that his team has a stronger chance of ending that wait for silverware this season.
"What is different is that we are in a better position to do it, that is course the first thing," he said. "The second thing is that we are ready for a battle, and to show that on the pitch we are ready for this battle.
"Overall that is what is different, to show that we have matured mentally. We are, as you know, in a much better position to do it."
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