Arsene Wenger insists ‘nightmare’ start is over with latest 2-0 win over Brighton banishing memories of 4-0 Liverpool loss
Gunners were out of the title race in August by some critics but they are slowly battling back into the mix
ARSENE WENGER claims Arsenal are over their “nightmare” start to the season after being written off as title challengers.
The Gunners manager celebrated 21 years in the job with a 2-0 win against Brighton which took his team level on points with champs Chelsea.
And the Frenchman believes it was his refusal to hit the panic button days after the 4-0 battering at Liverpool in August which has helped to silence the critics.
Wenger said: “The last time we went into an international break was a nightmare because we had just lost successive games at Stoke and Liverpool.
“This time we are going into an international break in better shape.
“I knew that everybody would write us off after the Liverpool game and jump to conclusions.
“But we played under special circumstances. It was the transfer window and some players had their heads half in and half out.
“We have responded in a united way. We have only played seven games so it is far too early to come to any conclusions.”
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Wenger, 67, was unaware he was celebrating his 21st Gunners anniversary yesterday, and added: “I did not know about that.
“When you are 21 years in a job you know you are going to have good and bad moments. Nobody can only fly.”
Brighton boss Chris Hughton said: “It’s always going to be difficult when you are a newly-promoted team up against a side with so much quality.
“We’re still learning. But we’ve played Arsenal and City and we’ve not been beaten out of sight.”