“We can first recover physically, I believe that is needed and then we’ll prepare well to win this game”, noted Wenger who revealed that Alexus Sanchez might be able to declare his fitness for next Monday’s clash against Manchester City at the Emirates stadium.
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“Every week I have to find positive points after defeats, which is not easy, but the way we reacted in the second half pleased me”.
Substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain went close for a third Arsenal goal, but by then Wenger’s men were already home and hosed.
Naturally his goalscorers featured highly in his commendations.
“It’s not just his goals, it’s his general play and everything about him”, Walcott told the official Arsenal website. “He is questioned sometimes, but finally the numbers get people to realise he is a good player”, he said.
Walcott’s pace was too much to handle for Hutton, who pulled the England striker to the ground, but Friend took time to think before giving the decision, having initially looked to have decided against giving the penalty.
Villa had not beaten Arsenal at home for exactly 17 years, when the team came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on December 13, 1998.
Olivier Giroud converted what appeared to be a harshly awarded penalty at Villa Park in the eighth minute for his 50th league goal for the north London side.
Aaron Ramsey started and finished the move which gave the Gunners breathing space just before the break.
“Overall, it was a controlled performance and a great week for us”. “He is naturally more a central midfielder”.
Villa, on the other hand, are now eight points from safety, and after another meek display have left themselves with a mountain to climb to remain a Premier League outfit next season.
For starters, I can’t imagine many players wanting to go there with relegation looking nearly certain. “This is my mission”. “We were all in the game, we were all concentrated to get this one point at the end and it felt like three”.
“Yes, it’s a big game but let’s remember that if Leicester beat Chelsea they might have something to say about who is top”.
“We are coming into a period of games [Newcastle, Norwich, Sunderland] over the next two or three weeks which are must-wins for us”. I see this situation as more of an opportunity than a problem but we have to be ready.
“I knew that Villa were fighting for survival, so it was important to take the lead against a team low in confidence”. They will probably define our season.
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Giroud himself, whose early strike was later doubled by Aaron Ramsey’s delightful breakaway team goal, was thrilled by his personal milestone. Now we have games that we have to win against direct opponents.
