Premier League fixture 2: Leicester City 0-0 Arsenal
After conceding 4 goal to Liverpool to open the Premier League season last weekend, it was vital for Arsenal to show defensive solidity. Despite not getting many occasions on goals against the last champion, the Gunners go back to London wit a good point as described by coach Wenger – his reaction is next:
on the draw…
“We could have got more out of that but maybe we could’ve lost it in the last five minutes. Overall it was a game where we had the chances and I think overall it was a game of intensity, of quality. They were very direct, of course, as we know and we needed to have the courage to play without making mistakes at the back and giving them chances on the counter-attack. That’s what the game was about, it was a fight until the end. You could see that Leicester had some mental qualities that explained why they were champions last year”.
on a lack of clear chances…
“If you watch the game again I think we did have clear chances in this game. In the first half in the last 20 minutes we had good opportunities. I believe the chances were there. We still lacked a little bit of speed of decision, a decisive mind and a decisive ball in the final third but it’s an up already from our last game at home”.
on Leicester’s level…
“Similar. Kante is Kante, over a longer period maybe, he had an exceptional influence but they looked to me to have the same determination. They lost only three games last year and that shows that you cannot say that by losing only one player they lose their qualities”.
on transfer criticism…
“It doesn’t cost a lot of money, that. Why do you say I’m reluctant, I don’t understand that? If I buy you tomorrow for £45m that means I’ve bought you for £45m, have I done well? Yes, if I listen to you, I will have done well because I spent the money. That is not a quality, buying a top player, that is different – and we are ready to do that. I spend £300m if I find the player and if I have the £300m. Not to forget as well that we are a club who has 600 employees who we need to have a responsible attitude for as well. It’s a bit surprising that you come out of football games and you don’t speak about football, you have to speak about money. I believe that you have to respect the players who play, the performance that has been done today by those teams and if you find players who can strengthen our team, then we are not reluctant to spend the money”.
on transfers in the next week…
“We are highly influenced by the media so that’s part of the process today. We try to make the right decisions, it’s as simple as that”.
