Arsène Wenger... seen his team pick up valuable points with late goals
Wenger - Late goals show our mental strength
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By Chris Harris
Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal's ability to grab late goals is proof that they have character as well as creativity.
Nicklas Bendtner struck six minutes from time on Saturday to end the resistance of a resilient Bolton side. The win clawed back some ground on two of Arsenal’s title rivals, Liverpool and Chelsea, leaving Wenger’s side eight points off the top.
Saturday is not the first time Arsenal have left it late this season. They have netted in the final 10 minutes of 16 of their 33 games, with five of those goals worth eight points in the Premier League or Champions League. William Gallas and Cesc Fabregas scored last-gasp equalisers at Dynamo Kyiv and Sunderland respectively while Gallas - against Portsmouth - and Bendtner - against Kyiv and now Bolton - have turned draws into wins at Emirates Stadium.
For Wenger, that long list of late goals is evidence of the resilience and mental strength which some critics claim his players lack.
"We have to show a resilient side when we don't score," said the Frenchman after Saturday's game.
"It shows as well that many people doubted the mental qualities of this team. It shows those strengths are there because we always score.
"If you take possession [against Bolton] it was maybe 75 per cent to 25 per cent and that maybe gives you an advantage because they [the opposition] run after ball after ball and at some stage with one position not being right you have an advantage."
[Monday, January 12, 2009]
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