“It worked quite well”, an utterly delighted Wenger said with intentional understatement.
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Wenger said: “It was one of the moments in life as a manager when you say “today is a great day”.
When Chelsea did get in behind, substitute Pedro Rodriguez racing clear after Diego Costa had picked Laurent Koscielny’s pocket, Bellerin sprinted back to produce an impeccable recovery tackle.
It was more than that.
“But I believe more the change in Theo Walcott is his attitude to this season”.
Coquelin was selected to start the match by Wenger, ahead of the arguably more favourable Granit Xhaka, who after two stunning back to back goals, was being pressed to start by the fans. Conte may be famous for his energy and intensity, but those qualities were only seen from Arsenal.
“But I think also that everyone must look in our house for the problem”.
We didn’t start the game in the way we wanted. Wenger was more optimistic.
Walcott has looked like a different player since returning to his natural position on the right flank.
The game was won by the 14th minute, and the pattern set in the 10th.
It was Arsenal’s first league goal against Chelsea in seven games and within three minutes they had another.
And they were 2-0 up after 14 minutes as Chelsea’s defence suffered a nightmare afternoon. Arsenal were rampant, and the crowd became raucous when Mesut Ozil volleyed in the third just before half-time.
Their runs dovetailing with Ozil’s vision can finally give the Gunners a forward line potent enough to make waves in this season’s title race. “Now we are a great team only on paper, not on the pitch”, said the Italian. Maintaining that quality has been the problem. The duo of Gary Cahill and David Luiz did not show good form, as they were easily exposed throughout various points of the game.
Coquelin missed several key months of last season after suffering medial ligament damage against West Bromwich Albion in November.
Arsenal took the lead on 11 minutes after a sloppy backpass from Branislav Ivanovic was pounced upon by Sanchez. Chelsea, however will go to KCOM Stadium where they will play 12th place Hull City.
“I have to solve the situation”. We must improve a lot if we want to stay up and not in the middle of the table. Arsenal did play Wenger’s way. “That’s the kind of football we want to play”.
Hazard flashed a shot into the side-netting as former Chelsea stopper Cech punched a free-kick into the Belgian’s path, but the first half belonged to Arsenal.
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He told BT Sport: “I am very happy because we needed to change the recent history, I thought we did it with style and steel and that’s what we wanted”.
