Press conference

The latest on Ozil, Koscielny and Welbeck

We’re six points behind the leaders as we head into the next international break, but there’s no doubt we have momentum after six wins in seven games.

Arsene Wenger was asked for his thoughts on the title race, our win over Brighton and our injured players when he sat down to face the press after Sunday’s game. Read on for some of the key quotes:

on the performance…

I would say that we kept a clean sheet, we got the points and offensively we were certainly not ruthless enough. Our focus and the pace in the game was a bit in and out, we had good moments and as well moments where we lost a bit our concentration in balls that we usually don’t lose, but we got what we wanted and [it was] just before the break. Our last international break was a nightmare, this one is a bit better.

on the international break…

Yes I would have loved to continue to play, but we cannot do anything about that and let’s hope that the players come back in good shape. Some players will not go on the international break. Laurent Koscielny, because he has an Achilles problem, Mesut Ozil because he has an inflammation of his knee and Danny Welbeck as well because he’s not fit.

on going into the break level with Spurs on points…

I knew that after the game at Liverpool everybody did write us off, I knew that it just depends on us, on how much we respond. Nothing is permanent, you are not bad in a permanent way if you can do something about it and you’re not good in a permanent way if you don’t keep your urgency, so we responded in a united way and we could put some wins together and some good performances as well.

on catching United and City…

It’s too early [to draw conclusions]. It’s very early, seven games played and 31 to go. Last year after six games Man City was top with 18 points, so let’s not go to pick conclusions. They played outstanding yesterday, but there’s a long way to go.

on Arsenal For Everyone…

It is vital, I think it is one of the responsibilities of sport and of football. Personally I preach sometimes in the desert a little bit because, for me, when you listen most of the time to people it’s just about winning, only about buying, but for me a football club is first about values. If I’m 21 years at this club it’s because this is one of the values that we rate and I’m very proud of that.