Arsene Wenger addressed the media after his side beat Newcastle United 3-0 on Monday night.
Read a transcript of what he had to say below:
on moving closer to securing fourth…
It is a step forward but we need to make another one because we have another home game [on Sunday]. It is another opportunity to win again. What is important is to focus on our performance. Game-by-game, they look strong and convincing now.
on having Ozil and Ramsey back…
I think they make a difference, but at the same period we had Walcott, Wilshere, Ozil, Ramsey and Koscielny all out. Of course you can sometimes miss one or two, but four or five? Every team feels that.
on it being more comfortable this year…
If we do it, yes [it is a relief] but it is not done yet. I am long enough in the job to know that to get over the line is always difficult. We have suffered enough this season in periods not to be complacent. The pain we went through will remind us to focus and do the final job well. We are in a strong position now.
on one more being enough for top four…
One more win will be top four for sure. It will show that the club has been consistent over the years, but we want more. Overall this season I think we have been 17 times top of the league, but at the crucial period of the season we have lost many players. We have got to the FA Cup final having played against Liverpool, Everton, Tottenham and in the Champions League we went out against Bayern with 10 men. We have shown we have potential, but we want more next season and hopefully we can do it. But first let's finish this season.
on the Wigan game being a turning point…
Wigan was a big game of pressure because the last thing you want is to be 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go of an FA Cup semi-final against a Championship team. It was certainly important on the confidence front.
on regrets this season…
We have to live with reality. We have shown quality but at the moment we have 73 points, we can make 79. Let’s finish as high as we can and analyse after where we can improve, what was right and what was wrong
on the merits of finishing fourth and potentially winning the FA Cup….
It is not down to me to judge that publicly.
on Jack Wilshere….
Jack is training already. It can’t tell you when he will be ready. I hope he will be back this season but I can’t tell you that tonight
on Newcastle…
They have gone through a difficult period but they have been safe for a long time. It is always difficult to maintain your focus when there is nothing to go for. You need that urgency in the top level
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