“We lost Coquelin and Xhaka came on and straight away he is at the level of the game”, Wenger told Sky Sports.
Advertisement
First, Alexis Sanchez pounced on a feeble attempt at a back pass by Chelsea defender Gary Cahill to beat the advancing Thibaut Courtois with a neat chip in the 11th minute.
It was Arsenal’s first win over Chelsea in the league since October 2011 and it saw them climb to third place in the Premier League table, while Antonio Conte’s beaten visitors slipped to eighth. We showed great quality, we played with style, with pace, with movement. To be a great team, I prefer to be a great team not only on paper but also on the pitch. “The inconvenient facts were there and we needed to change the recent history”.
The way Arsenal are looking at the minute you would expect us to win both those matches and if we do then things will really start looking good for the season ahead. “That’s the kind of football we want to play”.
Conte withdrew Cesc Fabregas, who looked a shadow of his former self on his return to the Emirates, and brought on Marcos Alonso in defence, switching to a three man central defence with the substitute and Cesar Azpilicueta as wing-backs.
“I have to solve the situation”, said Conte. Two at the back, three at the back, four at the back, I don’t care.
“It’s important to solve the situation”. I don’t want to talk about the mistakes because it’s not right for the player, we win as a team and we lose as a team and we know we must work a lot.
Conte dismissed claims that the absence of skipper John Terry had nothing to do with the loss to Arsenal.
“I don’t like this”. Today was a good test to see if that was real, if we could continue to move upwards.
By contrast, Chelsea coach Antonio Conte was left in no doubt about the size of the challenge he faces to rebuild his team which a year ago finished a lowly 10th in the Premier League after firing Mourinho in mid-season.
“I must find the right solution for this team because in every game we are conceding two goals, at minimum”, he said.
Advertisement
‘After today we must work a lot, we are a great team only on paper’. “I am working hard to do that”. “But a Premier League season is long and we’re now improving from game to game”.
