“I was surprised”, van Gaal told reporters.
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The German worldwide spoke to Bild before his country’s European Championship qualifier against Ireland, saying the Gunners had proved they have what it takes to win the league by beating Manchester United on Sunday.
Arsenal began the game hoping to turn around their mixed fortunes at home this season, having fallen to a surprise Champions League defeat to Olympiakos on Tuesday.
United headed into the match at the Emirates Stadium with ambitions of returning to the Premier League summit at the expense of rival Manchester City but it suffered a horrific start.
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“We were good, we started strong to press to win the ball and to be quick in transition”.
“I didn’t expect that,” Van Gaal said.
“It just wasn’t good enough from us”, said the 34-year-ol. “I like this group and I like even more the performance we have shown”, Wenger said to Arsenal Player.
Wenger was pleased with the improved performance from Arsenal but felt the need to point out Theo Walcott. “The only thing I can say is that we shouldn’t play a game like this again”, the Spain midfielder said. “It was awesome for me and very disappointing”.
They may be just two points behind Manchester City but if they can not do better in future games against the top four then they will struggle to maintain a convincing season.
“It is something we have to cope with and we respect that challenge but it means you really have to monitor and get the best out of the players you have available”.
The visitors created only two real chances, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech saving smartly from Anthony Martial and Bastian Schweinsteiger, and were badly overrun in midfield in the early stages.
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And Ferdinand, who was present at yesterday’s match with his kids, feels that it is up to the players to realise that they are capable of such superlative displays week in and week out. No, it was more than half of my team, I think, that was not doing what we have agreed in our gameplan.
