As much as Arsenal needed to get the three points away to West Ham, it was perhaps even more important for the confidence of the players, fans and even the manager, that Arsenal put a stop to the mini slump as soon as possible. So does this mean that the Gunners’ title challenge is well and truly back on?
Arsene Wenger certainly seems to think so, as explained in a report on ESPN. The Frenchman accepted that any slip-up against the Hammers would have caused real questions to be asked about Arsenal’s credentials. As it is, of course, the Gunners are back on top of the Premier League, which just shows you what a great position we had got ourselves in before the run of tough fixtures starting with Everton.
Wenger said, “We’ve answered some big questions.
“If we hadn’t won we would have had to answer many questions. It was the kind of game that many people would have questioned us if we had not won, and even more if we had lost.
“Does this performance prove you are genuine title contenders? Yes. The team wants to do well and the character is great.
“Our concentration is top. We have had a difficult period but, honestly, that’s mainly down to the schedule we have had. I completely think that the schedule was absolutely horrendous.
“When you do not win for four games, it is important to come back for the confidence level and win.”
It may sound like an excuse from Wenger, but those three games in six days, followed by Chelsea parking the bus, would have tested any team. And then going behind against the run of play yesterday could have caused heads to drop, so the way Arsenal fought back and took the game by the scruff of the neck really was admirable.
Only time will tell, and Man City are looking very strong, but after the next game at Newcastle, the season will be halfway through and the worst position we can be in is fourth and just two points off the top. If Arsenal beat Newcastle, however, we will be top by the halfway stage and that has not been the case for a long time. Surely then, even the likes of Michael Owen will have to start taking Arsenal seriously…
