Wenger on...the game
"We played against our nerves a bit as well today because you
could see that when we could not take our chances early on it
became a bit edgy, but we kept going and finally got the goal which
gives us three big points against a team which fought very hard and
made it difficult for us in the air. When I saw [Shaun] Bartlett in
their side I knew what to expect but we were dominant at the back
and didn't panic. The team was a bit nervy because we have lost
a few games recently. When we scored it was a relief and we are not
used to this but this victory can give us a new start. Overall I
feel we deserved the victory."
Wenger on...Reyes winner
"I feel he needed a goal because he didn't
score for a long time. I feel he will be a tremendous player but
you know when you have a player who you buy at 20 and he goes to a
foreign country and he takes some time. I am confident he will be
an immense player. He is a player who plays a lot on creative
instinct and that can only be expressed with a lot of confidence.
Starting left and drifting in is more comfortable for him. He likes
freedom. I wanted to show him we have confidence in him and we
believe in his quality. He matures quite quickly now. When you are
21 in a foreign country there is a big pressure on you, you
haven't scored for a while and it plays on your mind."
Wenger on...opting for a 4-5-1 formation
"We didn't give many chances away, I feel
we gave better balls in the final third. I like 4-4-2 but we have
played some physical games away from home and we needed to
strengthen in the middle of the park. The support has to come from
Reyes who we leave a little bit free. We tuck one midfielder in to
help out defensively but Reyes is quite free. It is like 4-4-2 but
a bit stricter with player a little bit tucked in."
Wenger on...Freddie's missed chance
"You saw that we wanted so much to win the game
that he lacked a little bit of spontaneous attitude. Once you take
your time the keeper gets an advantage. Last year and every year
Freddie scored double figures but at the moment he has not scored
and you can see that in the way he takes his chances. It is in his
mind."
Wenger on...recent form
"We felt we were a little unlucky at Newcastle
where we created the early chances. Against Chelsea we created the
early chances and hit the post and scored the goal, so that is a
little bit in your mind."
Wenger on...Danny Murphy's red card
"I have huge sympathy for Charlton. But I must say Robin van
Persie got exactly the same yellow card. It is the rules and the
referee can only apply the rules."
Arsène Wenger
Copyright 2013 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source 26 Dec 2005