‘Why we improved after the interval’

We delivered a much-improved performance in the second half against Bournemouth to claim our first win of November - but what was it down to?

Arsene Wenger admits we became “nervous” after the Cherries equalised, and he had some very specific instructions for the team at the interval.

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“It was a very intense game, but we started well,” he told Arsenal Player. “We scored and after that they got a penalty that, for me, looked soft but it destabilised us and we became nervous.

“At half-time we had to calm down, come out and focus on our game - that’s what we did. That’s why in the second half we created many, many chances.

“Bournemouth remained dangerous, they are a good side, but if you see the way we played at Manchester United, against Paris Saint-Germain, we had a different game here and overall I’m very pleased to have the three points.

“We had things against us, we came back to 1-1 then in the second half when you have a bit heavier legs you are tested. We pushed ourselves to win the game and it’s fantastic.

“I felt it played a little bit on the confidence of the team when you do not win for three games. Suddenly, there’s questions ‘Why do we not win?’ and the fluency goes a bit. These three points will help us.”