English Premier League: Arsenal 2-1 Leicester
Coach Wenger reacts after the win and on being in the race for the top four places qualifying for the Champions League:
on it being close towards the end…
Yes, towards the end but it is always like that when it’s 2-1. I feel that we were in control for the first half but when we were in control they had one or two good chances on the counter-attack. In the second half we lost our cohesion, our technical superiority and Leicester was always dangerous going forward. They are very quick in transition from defence into attack. At 2-1 we became a bit nervous but overall what was important for us was to get the three points.
on feeling the effects of the north London derby…
Yes it was a bit in their head, especially in the second half in the legs. Tottenham lost in the last minute as well. It was a very intense game on Saturday and three days later, it’s not easy.
on Aaron Ramsey’s hamstring injury…
It looks like it. I don’t know how bad it is yet. Just visually, it didn’t look good. When a guy stops straight away and sits down, that’s not good news. There’s a recurrence now of a few muscular injuries and it’s difficult – we haven’t found out why. I basically left him out today because I wanted to be cautious with him. I had to bring him on – I had a hesitation between Flamini and him – because we lacked a a bit of offensive power. It was not the best of decisions.
on his third hamstring injury this season…
Yes. Last year was a thigh but this year it’s a recurrence of hamstrings. You cannot say it’s no worry because after the player doesn’t play with the freedom in mind.
on whether he will get an extended rest…
He’s not overplayed. Before I never looked at him, I just played him in every game but since he’s had these problems I’m a bit more cautious with him.
on Alexis…
Sanchez got a knock on his knee. I don’t think he was himself. From the moment he got this knock, he was never really comfortable. I don’t know for how long he will be out and whether he will be out or not. I haven’t seen the doctor.
on Matthew Upson’s tackle…
It was a heavy tackle, yes.
on whether he was ok to take Alexis off…
Yes I was ready to take him off at half-time but he said, ‘no it’s okay, I can go on’. When I watched him play I thought, ‘No, that hasn’t [got better]’. Sometimes when you run it off it’s just a kick but he became worse and I didn’t see him in the second half.
on how many teams will compete for the top four…
Four, five or six. Chelsea, Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Southampton.
on the title race…
No, I consider us in the top-four race.
on being concerned about injuries…
No because for example Arteta has an ankle problem, Debuchy and Wilshere had an ankle problem and they are injuries you cannot do anything about. The only thing you can worry about are the muscular injuries. Arteta and Wilshere and Walcott were joint injuries – you cannot do anything about that. When you get tackles like we get, sometimes when the players are a bit tired it’s difficult to get out of it.
on getting the right protection…
Yes. I didn’t agree with all the decisions but I don’t think it was a violent game. It was a fair game. Leicester fight not to go down and when you see the way they play football, you are surprised they’re not bottom of the league and they want to get rid of their manager. If they keep quiet, don’t panic and stick together they will get out of that. For me they are one of the better sides we have played at the bottom of the league.
on what he said to Pearson after the game…
I told him, “well played and we were a bit unlucky tonight”.
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