Wenger in seventh heaven

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was delighted with his team’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, their seventh league triumph in succession.

Goals from Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott and a stunning Mikel Arteta free-kick powered Arsenal to the victory at Emirates Stadium, and saw them strengthen their claim on third place in the Premier League.

Wenger was thrilled with the performance, and said the team’s recent good form was all the sweeter after the tough periods the side has had this campaign.

“I felt it was a very dynamic, fluent performance in the first half with top technical quality,” Wenger said.

“It was a controlled performance in the second half, but our fatigue came in a bit because we gave a lot at Everton on Wednesday night.

“We have consistency at the moment, so let’s go home and wait for the next game.

“We have gone through difficult times, we have learned that nothing is guaranteed and we must keep humility and focus to finish the season in a strong, convincing way.

“In the past month it has turned our way so we have to make sure we keep the momentum. We look to be a team on the up so that is positive. We look at the next game and try to win it – that’s all we can do.”

Villa boss Alex McLeish, meanwhile, was brutally honest when comparing his own side to Arsenal.

“We still have a few more points than people below us and we need to get further up the table. But, if people expected us to come here and win, you know, we have to be realistic,” McLeish said.

“In my entire career I never thought I wasn’t capable as a manger or as a player of getting a result. You can try and plan accordingly, you go to a place like the Emirates or Old Trafford and you know you probably won’t get much of the ball.

“Yet within the tactics you have to believe you can cause an upset, but I’ve never not believed we couldn’t get a result at any ground in the world.

“The longer the game goes without them scoring, the more hope you have. They have a lot of quality in them, and that’s what you need, and they have it in abundance.”