Arsene Wenger says Arsenal’s attitude, charisma and experience will help them maintain a strong title challenge this season.
Saturday’s 1-0 win against Newcastle United saw the Gunners extend their lead at the top of the Premier League after Leicester City failed to beat 10-man Bournemouth at King Power Stadium.
Wenger’s side struggled to break down Newcastle’s resilient defence at times, but the manager believes that overcoming these tough tests proves how strong they are physically and mentally.
"If you look at your team like a person and the vibes that are coming out - you can sense in this job if you feel it or not"
“I think we are more experienced than the teams I had when I moved into the stadium here,” he said. “On our day we could play everybody off the park and when you had to dig deep you experience it was a bit more difficult. It was different.
“Now, the experience, the quality of their attitude, the team always has the charisma. If you look at the team as a unit, it is like person. If you look at your team like a person and the vibes that are coming out - you can sense in this job if you feel it or not.
“I must say [you see] another aspect of your team in a game like [against Newcastle]. It is more the mental aspect - you fight, don’t panic and wait for your chance. We were more questioned on that aspect than the way we played football.
“I also believe that everyone else’s organisation has improved. What is even more [surprising] is physically you won games in maybe the last 20 minutes when you were superior technically. That is not the case anymore.
"When you go forward, the team against you in transition always has the resources to come out and kill you. Look at the players who come on. They always have the quality to finish you off when you go for it. That is something new.”
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