Arsenal 2-0 Montpellier
Coach Wenger reacts:
on reaching the knockout stages…
We needed two good results, our result and the Schalke result. We got the two, so of course we are happy.
on Montpellier’s performance…
I found them well organised, strong in the challenge and quite aggressive. So it was for us a question of being patient, not making a mistake and using our experience to wait for our chances, which we did.
on a slow start to the game…
In the first half we had problems in the transition from defence to attack. In the second half it was better, we moved the ball quicker and made more incisive runs.
on the two goals…
We scored two good goals, one for Wilshere which I am pleased about after such a long time out. It is great to see him getting stronger and stronger. The second goal was fantastic from Podolski.
on it lifting Wilshere’s confidence…
He had a difficult start in the game and after that he got stronger and stronger. You could see after the goal he was more confident. I don’t worry too much about his confidence levels, because that is one of his strengths.
on Wilshere scoring more goals…
He should not be too obsessed by that. He defended well, he is the kind of player who has to be a complete midfielder not purely an offensive player. I am quite happy with his performance because the goals will come naturally.
on how close Wilshere is to getting back to his best…
I don’t know. For example, in our last game against Tottenham, I felt after 60 minutes that he lacked a bit of petrol. I didn’t feel that here. He didn’t drop his level so he must not be far away from being at his best. I still have to manage him in the right way and not overload him with games.
on giving away the ball in the first half…
We didn’t find our way in the first half, and Montpellier won many 50-50s. Technically we were not completely clean and accurate and I was worried we could be caught on the counter attack. In the end it went well.
on Olivier Giroud‘s display…
You always know with Olivier that you will get a guy who fights for the team. Technically it was not one of his best games, but after matches when you measure his performance it is [often] decisive. He had two assists here. Defensively he is always very reliable.
on the Giroud-Podolski partnership…
Giroud is good when he plays completely on the offside line. Sometimes when he doesn’t get the ball enough he wants to come deep. That is not his game. When he is a target man and uses his link-up play, he is fantastic because he can win in the air, he can score with his feet and can be a complete striker. He still has some work to do, but he is getting better.
on Giroud initially feeling under pressure…
Who wouldn’t? You know you will be compared [to Robin van Persie]. Life is great for that, but you can only make your life with your qualities, not the qualities of others. He has different qualities and he must use them.
on how Arsenal approach the final game…
We’ll play to win – to finish top of the group. If you look at some groups, you don’t really know if it is better to finish first or second. But statistically it is still better [to finish top] because you feel you have done your job better if you finish top of the group, so we’ll try to win at Olympiacos. Montpellier can beat Schalke at home.
on if he will take a full-strength side…
Yes.
on how proud he of qualifying consistently…
Thirteen times in a row we [have] qualified. I’m very proud because it’s not the most glamorous thing, but it’s most difficult to be consistent at our level. It is a credit to the Club, because it is not as easy as it looks. If you look all over Europe, there are not many teams who do it.
on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s knock…
He should be alright.
on Wilshere saying they must improve…
He’s right. I agree completely with him and with you on that. We are conscious of that. But that’s exciting as well, because I feel we are now in November, we play in March. What will be important is that players like Jack have a few months of competition, that the team will hopefully be stronger and we have some time. In the Champions League we can now focus on the next step. But in the championship, we have to make points so it’s important that we get closer to the top by Christmas.
on Roberto Di Matteo’s sacking…
I find it surprising and very sad. I believe that it’s important on our side to show loyalty. Di Matteo has come in, in a difficult situation and he has won the Champions League. He has won the FA Cup. He has done well and he wasn’t given any time at all this season. It’s a complete surprise to me. I followed the newspapers a little bit at the start of the week, and I thought you were wrongly informed and once again, I have to say you were well informed. It’s a complete surprise and it’s very sad news.
on Rafa Benitez’s appointment…
That’s a surprise as well, because Rafael Benitez is a guy who has a record, who is a manager of stature and it is a surprise that he is appointed for such a short time. I’m surprised that he accepted [the job].
