Arsenal gained a two-point lead at the top of the English Premier League by overcoming Newcastle 1-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Advertisement
The Gunners eventually claimed a 1-0 win with Laurent Koscielny grabbing the goal, and it left McClaren rueing his side’s ability in front of goal. “I think we are more experienced than the teams I had when I moved into the stadium here [in 2006]”. But I’m in the game long enough that when you’re capable of winning and you don’t play well, that shows the mental aspect of your team.
“I have belief because of the experience, the quality of the attitude”.
When the chips are down, you’re playing like a bunch of morons and nothing seems to go for you, the ability to dig in and pull a goal out from nothing will be the difference between first and the rest.
Wenger said: “In my job if you don’t believe in your team you are in a bad shape. It is more the mental aspect – you fight, don’t panic and wait for your chance”, Wenger said.
With most people expecting Joel Campbell to regain his place in the starting line-up, Arsene Wenger stuck with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who had his best game of the year against Bournemouth.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini sent a warning out to Premier League rivals that Manchester City are ready to hit top gear in the title race after ending their away-day misery at Watford.
But with the Gunners also poised to challenge for a first Premier League title since 2004, Wenger has made a decision to rest some squad members despite reservations over how they will return for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round clash against Sunderland.
“To be a champion, I know what it takes because I was a champion with Montpellier”, he said.
Until the goal, Newcastle had played with a confidence belying its 18th position in the standings, with Arsenal having goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for the score staying goalless.
With Wenger expected to add players in January, and have his star men back soon, they will be confident of maintaining or even improving their form moving forward.
Advertisement
“They can all play, but at the moment, because there is so much at stake, it is very hard to get the young players to start, but they have the quality”.
