by Rockin' Robin » Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:42 am
by Rockin' Robin » Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:54 am
by Q8 Gooner » Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:56 am
by SE13 » Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:53 pm
Via E-Mail, Arsene Wenger wrote:Dear Arsenal Supporter,
I cannot explain what I said at half-time at Anfield on Sunday. I just said to my players that the first half was Liverpool and the second half would be Arsenal.
Liverpool played a pace above us, they won all the 50-50s in the first half and at half time 1-0 was a good result for us. You respond sometimes to what you think a team needs and I always try and be composed in the dressing room. But it is good because after 13 years I can still surprise the players.
Liverpool played very well in that first period and we played with the handbrake because of our fear. That fear was of not winning the big games because we lost against Chelsea and Manchester United. You could see that we brought that into the game.
But once we had nothing to lose in the second half we controlled the game. We were a bit lucky with the first goal and the fear was in Liverpool's camp in the second half. Then we scored an outstanding second goal from Andrey Arshavin and from then on Liverpool's pace dropped. I believe we were not under threat for the whole 45 minutes of the second half.
Andrey surprises the goalkeepers and defenders every time. His foot was injured and he couldn't hit the ball properly on his right foot and didn't practice the whole week nearly. But when he had the chance he still took it. Later I had to take him off because of that. At that moment of the goal he didn't feel the pain.
Sunday was a significant victory for us because I believe that Liverpool are a good side who when they find their confidence they can beat anybody in the league.
Mathematically we are now in a good position with a game in hand. Mentally for us it was a massive game at Liverpool. We knew that with what happened on Saturday, with our rivals losing, we needed to win the game. We knew that before the game started and we did it so that's something positive. Now it's down to consistency. I have said for a long time now the team to win this League will be the team capable of being really consistent. Nobody has been yet. There is a long way to go.
I always said that Chelsea would drop points after our defeat against them and they have. Everybody will drop points because there are so many good teams in this League. Now Liverpool have Gerrard back, Torres back, Aquilani back, I tell you many will drop points at Anfield. They played at a level in the first half that was impressive.
Thanks for your continued support.
by Danny-K- » Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:34 pm