Arsene Wenger values performance over point as Arsenal respond to Liverpool woe with Chelsea draw

James Benge17 September 2017

Arsene Wenger took more pride in the quality of Arsenal's performance than the point earned as Chelsea were matched in a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

A disciplined, defensive display at Stamford Bridge offered a powerful riposte to Wenger’s critics three weeks after the humiliating 4-0 drubbing at Liverpool that left Arsenal lurching towards crisis.

Though Pedro spurned a gilt-edged chance in the first half, Arsenal enjoyed much the better of the play with Aaron Ramsey seeing his effort deflect off the post and Shkodran Mustafi having a goal ruled out for a marginal offside.

The point also extended Wenger’s impressive record over Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte; losing just once in five meetings including triumphs in the FA Cup Final and Community Shield in the space of four months.

And Wenger hailed today’s result as a reminder of the mental fortitude of his side.

“People forget that two months ago [sic] that we beat Chelsea in the Cup Final,” Wenger said. “We have shown that [fighting spirit] many times. It’s true that you have to accept when you deliver the kind of performance we did at Liverpool you are criticised – we have only one way to respond: on the pitch.

“It was a question today [over] the attitude, the response, the determination. It was vital for us, even above the result, to come out with a solid performance on that front.”

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Arsenal | 17/09/2017

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Wenger added: “I felt that it was a game with total intensity where two teams really went for it. It was a battle all over the pitch. We responded well.

“In domains where we were questioned I like when the team shows that kind of response. I feel that it’s a deserved point, with a bit more freedom, maybe less inhibition, we could have won this game with one or two goals difference.

“Overall for us it was important at least not to lose today. You could feel that in the team in the last 20 minutes, we played a bit with that in our mind.”

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Arsenal had not won at Stamford Bridge since 2011 and had failed to keep a clean sheet in West London in 12 years.

Having become the first team of Conte’s reign to keep Chelsea goalless Wenger said the challenge had been even greater than May’s FA Cup Final, when the underdogs secured the trophy with a 2-1 win.

“The challenge was higher because it was played on a neutral ground,” he added. “Today we played at their home, where they are traditionally very strong. But I feel overall we did exactly what I expected the team to do.”

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