Arsène Wenger’s theme of the day after watching his team win their fourth successive game was the enduring and inspiring capacity of football to make a wrong right. Since the calamitous Champions League defeat to Monaco, Arsenal have buckled down with a steely-eyed determination to fuel a sense they can make amends, no matter what the odds, when they head back into Europe for the second leg this week.
That notion was epitomised by Olivier Giroud. Against Monaco he looked devastated to experience a bewildering kind of anti-hat-trick as all his efforts went askew. Since then he has scored the opening goal for Arsenal in three consecutive Premier League victories. After lashing in against West Ham with such ferocity the goalkeeper, Adrián, would have been crazy to attempt to get his dislocated finger anywhere near it, the striker’s mind turned again to Monaco. Did he really believe Champions League redemption was possible? “Of course,” he replied, with an expression to suggest any other answer would be utterly nonsensical.
In the past few years Arsenal’s annual last-16 pickle in the Champions League has often coincided with a falling-away in domestic competitions. This time confidence has been rebuilt quickly and efficiently since they succumbed 3-1 to Monaco at the Emirates.
Arsenal find themselves a point off second place in the Premier League – albeit with no intention of getting over-excited yet – and with an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley ahead.
In words, and in body language, they mean business. “We got it wrong in the first game,” said Wenger. “What you want in life is the chance to put it right. Honestly, I’d prefer to be 3-0 up. Sometimes in life you make a big mistake and there’s no comeback, no way you get the chance to put it right again. In football you can do it so let’s just give everything to do it.”
In search of at least three goals in the principality on Tuesday, Arsenal can take some encouragement from the number of potential goalscorers in their squad. Against an understrength West Ham, Mathieu Flamini became their 21st scorer this season. Giroud excelled creatively as well as in finishing and his support play for Aaron Ramsey’s strike was superb.
“I try to bounce back as quick as I can and the boss gave me a chance to do it,” the Frenchman said of his recent renaissance. “If you let the doubts enter your head it’s even more difficult to cope. There are always tough moments like that because we do a hard job. You have to question yourself every week and bounce back. I try to show my answer on the pitch with my mentality. It was nice to do it.
“Even when you play well and score a lot of goals, if you miss some everything is forgotten. You have to be aware. Don’t believe the people who talk too much about football. I know when I play well or not. I know how to bounce back. I used to say that football is an everlasting new beginning. We trust in our chance to go through and if we create as many chances as we did today we can create hope.”
The visitors retreated from the Emirates licking their wounds. Only one Premier League victory since Christmas has dulled what had been an uplifting mood in the season’s early months. Although they kept the outcome close until Arsenal turned up the heat late on, the defeat was pretty comprehensive. Sam Allardyce chose not to share any words of wisdom post-match.
“He was angry the way we conceded the two goals towards the end,” said his assistant, Neil McDonald. “Sometimes the managers are angry and don’t want to come out and say something wrong. They send the messenger out instead.”
McDonald added it would be helpful if the manager’s contractual situation was clearer even if he doubted that had any impact on recent performances. “It would be nice for that to be sorted wouldn’t it, yes, but the manager has stated it will be sorted at the end of the season and if that’s the way they do it, that’s the way they do it.”
Man of the match: Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)