‘It took courage to come through storm’

Arsene Wenger has hailed his side’s courage and mental fortitude after they drew 1-1 with Manchester City on Saturday.

The Gunners went into the game on the back of a heavy defeat at Chelsea, quickly followed by the concession of a last-gasp own goal to draw with Swansea City.

But after falling behind to a first-half David Silva strike, Arsenal produced a spirited fightback and claimed a point when Mathieu Flamini equalised.

It was the perfect response to a trying week, according to Wenger.

“We have shown we can fight and be united, that we can respond to adversity and they are the positives of the day,” he said. “The frustration we have is that we did not get the result we wanted, but overall the performance was there from the first minute to the last, and our attitude was absolutely spot on.

“We have gone through an absolute nightmare, a storm, this week. The critics come very quick and very hard, the only way we can deal with it is to respond in the next game, and that is what we did.

“It has been very bad, but as well very positive because it is always an opportunity to show you have some mental strength, so I am very proud of my players because they have shown that.”

Despite their recent struggles, Wenger was also delighted to see his team constantly demand the ball from each other.

“It is a kind of real courage to be available when you are insecure, to want the ball when the confidence is not there - when you are 3-0 up, everybody wants it,” he said.

“I remember Michel Platini told me once with the French national team that in the first 20 minutes, everybody gave him the ball, but after they were 2-0 up then nobody gave him the ball anymore!”