Wenger: 'We had patches of total football'

on a pulsating Cup tie...
"I felt it was an electric game with exceptional pace where you have seen some exceptional football. We had patches of total football, technical, quick combinations, high pace. Both teams went for it and in fairness we had the clear-cut chances. Bolton were dangerous as well and the fact we couldn't finish the game off with the penalties allowed them to come back. That was disappointing but I was very proud of our performance because a lot of our work came out in the game."

on his team's response to Bolton's goal...
"I felt it would be a good challenge because we have an exceptional mental strength and the young players responded very well in extra time after Bolton came back to 1-1."

on competing with 'physical' sides...
"We have improved and I have said that many times. We have shown that again, we were more decisive in our one-against-one challenges, we were calm, we had a good mix between fighting spirit and composure on the ball. We have gained maturity and we produced some exceptional football tonight."

on failing to kill off the game in normal time...
"As long as you're 1-0 up and you play at Bolton you know you are under threat from a corner. It is not our main strength."

on finding the right balance...
"I felt that the way we approached the game was positive, there was no psychological handbrake in our head, we started strongly so I was quite reassured after 10 minutes. But then I thought we tried to force too much the individual ball to score, our final ball was missing a bit of vision and touch and that made it difficult for us to score even if we elaborated fantastic football before that. Then as long as you are only one up, and you miss two penalties in the game - and from two Brazilians, that is exceptional as well."

on the identity of Arsenal's next penalty taker...
"The third on the list was... let me think about that for a minute... it would have been Adebayor."

on dealing with the fatigue factor...
"That's a problem we have at the moment because we are involved everywhere. We play Saturday, we play Tuesday in Eindhoven, and the fatigue factor is important. We didn't wish to play extra time but as long as you win you hope you can recover. I will change some players on Saturday, that is for sure."

on Aliadiere, Diaby and Denilson...
"Aliadiere is a good player. He can play wide, he can play in the centre. He has certainly made huge improvement this year. But he was always injured the years before, this is the first year he is completely clear of injury. Sometimes you have to have patience with young players. You have seen Diaby tonight, he has come back after nine months. Denilson too, they are 18 or 19 and it is absolutely fantastic."

on whether this was Arsenal's best display of the season...
"Yes, this is one of the better ones. The team is doing really well recently, it has taken off and the spirit in the side has been exceptional."

16/1 - Arsenal v Blackburn: Thierry Henry to score the only goal of the game