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Extra: Wenger on Coquelin and options

Read some extra quotes from Arsène Wenger's pre-match press conference. For more headlines, visit our Digest page.

on the Manchester City game…
We had a very controlled performance with a great solidarity and a great togetherness - that’s always a very good basis. Everybody contributed with hard work, great work-rate. Can we keep that focus on our qualities and improve our technical level? We can only get stronger.

on whether there’s been a change…
What happened over the weekend helps the team to strengthen our confidence, of course. I think the attitude of the players since the start of the season, in their desire to do well and their solidarity has been extremely good. The basics have not changed - we certainly have more belief and more strength in our belief.

on wanting to see same spirit in every game…
Of course. I believe that the spirit was always there. We had not always had the same defensive solidity, because we were many times in a position where we had to throw everything forward, because we conceded early goals.

on if this attack is better than the Invincibles…
I think number-wise, we have more players today at a top level than we had at the time. At that time, we had exceptional players. Number-wise, we were shorter than we are today. The competition for places - what Walcott certainly wants to say - was not as difficult as it is today and I agree with him on that. Having said that, we had exceptional players.

on Coquelin returning to the club…
I saw that he made huge improvements in training and I explained to him that for me to give him a potential chance, he needed match practice. I could not give him that, I could give him that only if he played somewhere else before. He took the challenge, he came back and since I have played him, he is doing well.

on whether he can be long-term solution…
Yes, of course. He is a very young player. You look just at what happens on the pitch. Win the ball and make a good pass, in his position that is important.

on offering him a new deal…
Yes, we have offered him a new deal. I am confident that it will be done.

on Ozil and Walcott giving options...
People reproach you when you have no competition on the bench. When there is one, they question you as well. It is true there is competition for places at the moment, that is a luxury that only a club like of our stature can afford. It can make the players better, because the competition inside the club is always very important to keep the players on their toes. These are players who are in a bit of a special position, it is not their quality which is questioned, it is just the fact they have just come back from long term injuries.
 
on his best starting team...
The best XI I have in my head can change every week. We are in a world where competition is vital and competition is just down to performance in the last game.
 
 

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