A huge win against Manchester United on Sunday made midweek feel a long time ago.
On Tuesday, Arsenal lost in the Champions League to Olympiacos but just a few days later a completely different Arsenal was on show. The Gunners raced out of the blocks to tear through Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United in the first half.
It was a world away from the last performance seen at the Emirates Stadium and, obviously, pleased Wenger to no end. A huge game was met with a huge performance.
“That is what you want in games of that stature. I believe in the [first half] we started very strong and decided to press very high and play with great pace, and we did that very well,” said the Arsenal manager.
“After in the second half we decided to be disciplined, control the result and we did that very well. We had two aspects in our game that was pleasing and we were convincing today. It gives us a strong answer to all the questions raised in the week.”
The Gunners faced plenty of questions after the midweek disappointment, but to play like this against Manchester United was huge.
No matter what, a lot of Arsenal fans will feel this is our biggest game after the rivalry the two clubs shared through Wenger’s first seven or eight years in England. Sir Alex Ferguson is gone and Manchester City and Chelsea have broken the dominance of the two clubs who were at the top for so long, but the game is still incredibly meaningful.
Wenger knows that, and you could tell how much Sunday’s win – which took us above United and to within two points of Manchester City – meant to everyone involved.
“I’ve been at the club for 19 years and I know what you want is a strong response in a big game when you have a big disapointment. But we [took it in] perspective and focused on what it is important
“It’s us and not too much what was said and we focused on what is important in the game and that is part of being at the top level. The pressure on any disappointment today is massive and it’s maybe a little bit more difficult to deal with it but we did well.”
Arsenal dealt with the scrutiny brilliantly and gave a flawless response.