However the Arsenal manager has refused to talk too much about Chelsea’s poor start to the season, preferring to focus more on his club’s excellent opening few weeks.
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It is a timely boost for Wenger considering the personnel that he is without for the time being, although given Ramsey’s preference to play centrally and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s inconsistency, he may well consider giving Campbell an extended run in the side if he can continue to impress.
“I am happy for Joel [Campbell] because he works very hard. Winning games obviously breeds confidence but this group is very strong”, Monk said.
The win ensures we remain level on points with league leaders Manchester City after they beat Norwich 2-1 at the Etihad thanks to a late Yaya Toure penalty.
“We had a hard first half where we didn’t find our rhythm, our pace, our decisiveness and the second half was a different team. After we scored the first goal, it was all us and there was only one victor on the pitch”.
Wenger had made numerous changes to his team for the trip to Wales and he admitted his players took while to settle down, but once they took the lead there was only ever going to be one outcome.
Arsenal transfer target Samuel Umtiti says he wants to leave Lyon and play overseas with the Premier League a possible destination.
“But, for me, it’s all about perception and we’re on a par, if not very close, to more illustrious teams in this league on vastly superior budgets to ourselves”.
Swansea were trying to force their way back into the contest when Koscielny scored a controversial second goal after 68 minutes.
“I didn’t see a foul, honestly”, said Wenger when quizzed about Koscielny’s goal afterwards. “But there is always diverse opinions after the game”.
Arsene Wenger has challenged his fringe players to take their chance in the spotlight after an injury crisis left the Arsenal manager short of options heading into Saturday’s visit to Swansea City. But the referee decided it wasn t. In our job, all you can do is be ready and when you get your chance, take it and I think he did.
“I feel for the players today”.
“You could clearly see our intentions in the first half”.
“We have to show that type of appetite in every game we play”.
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“The second half we were a different team”.
