News

Wenger - We showed special strength

Arsene Wenger has praised Arsenal’s “special strength” in coming back to secure a hard-fought point at Manchester United.

The Gunners made a slow start to the game at Old Trafford and fell behind to Ander Herrera's first-half strike.

The visitors were much improved after the break and claimed a deserved late equaliser when Theo Walcott’s shot was deflected into his own net by Tyler Blackett.

"There was room to win the game but overall I’m very pleased with the response we gave in the second half"

Arsene Wenger

“We were not convincing in our final movement, and we lost too many balls in the first half,” Wenger told Arsenal Player afterwards. “We were a bit too conservative, not incisive enough, mentally a bit timid and there was not enough progression forward in our passing.

“In the second half we came out and were a different team. We played much more on the front foot and had a better response. We passed the ball quicker as well and that makes a huge difference.

“We slowly took over to finish on top of them in the final 30 minutes. There was room to win the game but overall I’m very pleased with the response we gave in the second half.

“It was important because it was a big game and to come back in a big game always demands special strength. I think we did that well and overall it should make the team feel stronger to go into next season with more belief.”