News

Wenger - We showed that we can scrap

Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger says that Saturday's success at Burnley showed his team has fight as well as flair.

An eye-catching win over Liverpool last weekend was memorable for slick passing and explosive finishing, but Arsenal had to call on very different qualities at Turf Moor after Aaron Ramsey's early goal got their noses in front.

"I believe that we know we can play with sharpness and fluency but we know as well that on Saturday what we needed was to be a bit more scrappy, show more fight, be more combative, and we can produce that side as well," said Wenger. "That’s what we have to show in the coming months.

"Let’s just focus on ourselves and see where we stand at the end of the season"

Arsene Wenger

"I don’t know if [a one-nil win is a return to] good or bad days, but a win is a win sometimes. You can't always win 3-1, 4-1 or 5-1. In this season you need as well to be able to win 1-0. I’m glad we can do that as well.

"I would like to pay tribute to Burnley as well," added Wenger. "They are a very good side, well organised. You have to give credit to their manager. He does a good job here."

Arsenal have an outside chance of challenging for the Premier League title but Wenger won't look beyond next weekend's Wembley date with Reading.

"I look at the fixture list and we play next week in the semi-final of the FA Cup and that’s what I focus on," he said. "We focus on the next game.

"Behind us are some hunters as well and we are in a position that nobody believed was possible one month ago, so let’s just focus on ourselves and see where we stand at the end of the season."