Wenger: 'We could not drop any more points'

Wenger on...the victory
"It was a massive game for us and we knew that before the game. I was not worried about Wednesday being on the players' minds as the focus was today's game and the performance showed that. We knew we could not drop anymore points that we needed a good performance. We have to be consistent until the end of the season. We were a bit under pressure."

Wenger on...Thierry Henry's performance
"He was immense and the whole team played well and when that happens then Thierry becomes even stronger. He is developing as a captain. He is conscious of the team. He talks more, he speaks to the defenders. It takes time to get completely into that role."

Wenger on...the improvement in his young team
"For a while now I feel the team have been gaining confidence and slowly we are coming back. It depends on consistency and we know until the end of the season every game is vital and we just have to try and play like we did today."

Wenger on...getting tougher
"It will come but when you are more mature. When you are 18, 19 or 20 you expect a free kick when you are pushed. When you are over 20 you are prepared because you know that you won't get a free-kick. You have to learn and this team will learn it very well. In the short term though we need to play with who we have."

Wenger on...on the evolution of the side this season
"We played today with Eboue, Toure, Senderos and Flamini in defence. That is only one player who was planned at the start of the season. It takes a while to get stable there but they showed great strength. Diaby and Adebayor have only just arrived and it took a while for Hleb but he is slowly getting there. I believe the team has good mental strength, good unity and the ability to develop. But we are in a situation where every game is vital until the end of the season."

Wenger on...on early Real Madrid team news
"For Real Madrid we just expect Pires to be available but we'll lose Adebayor [who is ineligible]."

Arsène Wenger