Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Wenger hails tough Gunners

14 Dec 2006 - 08:09:36

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes his players have finally discovered how to compete with more physical sides after Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic.

The Gunners have been accused of having a soft centre this season following a string of defeats to teams with a more combative style.

But after Emmanuel Adebayor fired the north London side up to third in the table, Wenger believes his side have turned the corner.

"I can understand if Wigan are frustrated because they gave it absolutely everything, they created chances, and always looked dangerous," said the Frenchman.

"But the spirit is right. This is the kind of game a year ago we would have lost 1-0, but instead we won it 1-0.

"Even this season we lost 1-0 at Manchester City, a game we should have won three times more than we did here. This was a much more difficult game.

"At West Ham they had one shot on goal, yet again we lost 1-0. I think we have learned not to make mistakes.

"We also know how to deal a little better with the kind of game Wigan gave us, which is very physical.

"Overall, I feel the team has learned quickly and is improving every week.

"They show great spirit, great resilience, fight very hard, and that is why we maybe got the result.

"We have played better combining football than we did in this game, but I like it when my team can win a game like that.

"I've tried to instill that into the players. It's what we have been missing."