Wenger´s spending paying dividends

Arsene Wenger claimed Arsenal’s deadline day rebuild is beginning to bear fruit following their sensational 5-3 win at Chelsea.

The Frenchman was full of praise for his team after they overcame a 2-1 half-time deficit to win 5-3 at Stamford Bridge only two months after they were humiliated 8-2 at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

“What has changed is that we got half a team in on 31 August,” said Wenger, who bought five new players in the last 48 hours of the transfer window.

“We had to play a qualifier for the Champions League, we had to rebuild the unity in the way we want to play. Now the players get used to the way you want to play.”

“Every win makes you stronger as well. We have to remain humble, keep focused and win together. We have some ground to make up to finish stronger in the league but the quality we have shown today should make us more confident.”

“People forget Wojciech (Szczesny), (Aaron) Ramsey, (Jack) Wilshere, they are 19, 20. They are top quality but it’s normal they improve game to game. I feel we are much stronger as a unit today.”

Wenger said there was ‘nothing to add’ on Robin van Persie’s contract situation but praised the Dutchman, whose hat-trick took his personal tally to 10 league goals this season and 28 in his last 27 Premier League matches.

“He is, of course, on fire but he takes advantage from the fact we attack a lot and create chances. Overall, the intelligence of his movement around the box and the accuracy of his finishing is sensational.”

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas failed to blame either John Terry or Florent Malouda for their part in the calamitous mistake that led to van Persie’s go-ahead strike for 4-3, calling the situation ‘unfortunate’.

“I would say that was maybe the two decisive moments in the game in my perspective. It was those 15 minutes where we couldn’t find the back of the net compared to the amount of chances that we had. At the end we were trying to get the 4-3 (win), we missed two chances with (Juan) Mata at the back post,” he said.

“We got punished by an unlucky situation, which can happen to any player. That leaves van Persie against our ‘keeper and he did his job like he usually does. So I would say those were the two decisive moments of the game, of a very open game, a very attack minded game from both teams.”

“Regarding the 5-3, I have nothing to say because there was three minutes on the clock and we were trying to get it to 4-4, we were completely out-balanced to attack and naturally Arsenal made the most of a transition to get the 5-3.”

“For me the decisive moment would be the first 15 minutes where today the amount of chances we had we only converted one and then at 3-3 the two chances that we had and eventually suffering to an unfortunate goal.”