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'It was more maths than brilliance'

Arsene Wenger discusses our performance, Alexis’ first goal and facing a ‘good’ storm

Alexis was at the double as we returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Hull City at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger faced the media after the game and this is what he had to say:

on the win…
As you said it was more about the mathematics than about the brilliance today because we had absolutely to win today. Unfortunately against a good team who I cannot see even from the stand any weakness in there. Physically they are strong, they are organised, they have a good spirit and technically they are good as well. So overall I felt that we started well until we led 1-0, we created some very good chances. After we became a bit more protective to protect the result. After that we were playing a bit more to not concede a goal and that’s what the game was about because we knew that was absolutely vital to win today.

on whether the gap to Chelsea is insurmountable..
Look I said on Thursday that we have to fight no matter what the gap is. The best as much as we can and the first to find some confidence back. When you lose two games that’s what you fight for. For us, it was just important to win today.

on the first goal seeming to be a handball…
Honestly, I don’t know. I’m responsible for many things, but not for the referee’s decisions. I feel sorry for Hull but I feel that we had as well to cope recently with some decisions where you didn’t ask me this question. So I am sorry. I want the right decisions to be made.

on being asked at the Chelsea game about Bellerin and the foul…
Yes, yes. I am sorry for that then. There are some other goals that we conceded, like at Man City, that nobody said was offside.

on whether he felt his side needed a bit of luck like that…
Of course. When you lose two games on the trot at Arsenal you face a good storm. There is only one answer: to win the next game… or you face even more. I’m at Arsenal for 20 years, I know that. When you will look one day if I lost three Premier League games on the trot, you will be surprised.

on Ian Wright’s comments…
I don’t know what Ian Wright said.

on being told that Ian Wright alleges that the boss gave him the impression he is close to leaving…
No, no. It was questions and answers. I could be tired because I get up early in the morning and I finish late at night, so I am tired, yes. But I didn’t give any indication about my future.

on whether he spoke with Ian Wright privately on Thursday…
No, it was a question and answer with members of the Diamond Club. That’s in the evening so there were many people there.

on whether there was no point at which he just spoke to Ian about his future…
No, no. We had a little dinner before but it was not the two of us. There were four or five.

on whether he thinks Ian has misinterpreted him…
Yes. You know I appreciate very much that you want me to rest, absolutely. But I am not ready for that yet.

 

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