Wenger hails best comeback
30 Mar 2008 - 12:26:17
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- Wenger hails best comeback
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed Saturday's comeback to beat Bolton Wanderers 3-2 at the Reebok Stadium was the best during his time at the helm.
The ten-man Gunners looked to be heading out of the title race after Matt Taylor fired the home side into a 2-0 first-half lead and Abou Diaby was shown a straight red card for a lunge at Gretar Steinsson.
But Arsenal regrouped during the interval and, after William Gallas and a Robin van Persie penalty had restored parity, Jlloyd Samuel's late own goal ended a six-game winless streak and kept Wenger's side on the heels of Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the table.
"I can't remember a better comeback than that - to be 2-0 down, with ten men and win 3-2 with just half-an-hour to go is a great credit to the team," enthused the Frenchman.
"I am very proud of our performance because we got a big blow last week (losing to Chelsea) but responded well.
"The first half we didn't play badly but everything went against us.
"Not only was their first shot on target a goal but we had a player sent off and just before we go to half-time they score a second one which was a big blow.
"The last 30 minutes we had chance after chance and in the end we were a bit lucky on the third goal, but we did absolutely everything to win the game and we got a very important victory for us."
Meanwhile, Wenger defended midfielder Diaby who was shown a straight red card on the half-hour mark.
"I was not upset with the sending-off because his foot was a bit high," he continued.
"I feel it was more a protective tackle than an aggressive one but he was too high. I don't complain."