Arsene Wenger praised the “exceptional” Alexis Sanchez after the Chilean scored both goals in a 2-0 win over West Brom, but admits the Gunners “should have scored more”.
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Arsenal played well in front of a reduced crowd at home as supporters grow disillusioned with Wenger’s inability to deliver a credible Premier League title challenge.
“We haven’t been up to that standard of late and it was important for us to put on a performance today – not just for our fans but for us as well, ” Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey said. If you love football, I think you’ll see quality football.
“It was important for us to win, let’s try to win the next one….”
Wenger said given the match was played on a Thursday, other factors may have impacted. “But are we intelligent enough to know why everyone didn’t turn up?” the manager asked suggesting that the Thursday kick-off could have had an impact as much as the supporter apathy over Arsenal’s recent performances. On other days, such as Sunday when Arsenal was held by Crystal Palace to 1-1, the team is made to pay for such wastefulness in front of goal.
The Gunners were easy winners at the Emirates as two goals from Alexis Sanchez saw them to a 2-0 triumph over Tony Pulis’ side. We want to finish as high as possible.
“Of course we have regrets, in recent games we had two draws where we should have won the games every time”.
“The regret we have is being in the lead against West Ham and being in the lead against Crystal Palace, and not to make the (three) points”, he said.
Striving to stay in the top four is a far cry from how Arsenal’s fans would have imagined this season finishing considering their position on New Year’s Day, when they were top of the table.
West Brom’s best chance of snatching something came from set pieces; Gareth McAuley hit the bar with a header from a corner after half an hour and with twenty minutes to go Salomon Rondon failed to connect with another despite a gaping goal.
But Arsenal are again left with nothing but to hang onto their cherished fourth-placed finish, and if things go the same way as they have been for the past couple of months, then the Londoners might be struggling to even get a Champions League spot next season. It looks like Sanchez is back sharper, more confident.
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“We have been really frustrated with the way we have been playing but we have come back tonight… maybe it’s too little too late”. “Some said I would find it hard to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League but I thought otherwise”, he said this week.
