Wenger - Gunners outstanding

Arsenal boss ready for thrilling title run-in

Last updated: 20th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger - Gunners outstanding

Wenger: Hailed side

We are not under any special pressure because we are beyond expectation.

Arsene Wenger.
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Arsene Wenger saluted an 'outstanding' display from his Arsenal side as they climbed back to the top of the Premier League table with victory over West Ham.

Denilson fired the Gunners into an early lead before the Hammers were handed a lifeline back into the match as Thomas Vermaelen saw red for bringing down Guillermo Franco in the box.

Referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot and gave the centre-back his marching orders on the advice of his assistant, but Manuel Almunia produced an excellent stop to deny Alessandro Diamanti.

Returning captain Cesc Fabregas then sealed an important success seven minutes from time with a penalty of his own after Matthew Upson's handball to leave Wenger purring.

"I believe we had an outstanding game," the Frenchman declared.

"We played with class and spirit and we kept our nerve when the situation became difficult, so overall we have shown a good attitude, good maturity, and in the important moments in any department we were decisive.

"Everybody adapted very well to the situation and technically I believe we were outstanding today."

Very harsh

Wenger was left fuming by Atkinson's decision, which rules Vermaelen out of the next game at Birmingham - leaving Arsenal short at centre-back, and spoke to the official at the interval.

"I felt it was very harsh," he said. "We have seen this situation so many times in the game without it being punished at all."

The Gunners could be back down to third should both Manchester United and Chelsea win on Sunday but, after another brave display, Wenger's youngsters remain very much in the hunt for a first title since 2003/04.

Wenger added: "We are not under any special pressure because we are beyond expectation.

"We want to win the trophy because we are all conscious we have won nothing yet - the hunger is there, the talent is there and I think the nerves are there.

"All we can do is rely on the other results of the other teams, so the only thing we can do is master our own results.

"We have a good chance to do it this year. It will be exciting, tight and the response we gave today in the second half was very important in future games."