Published: 9 April, 2015
by STEVE BARNETT

ERIC Cantona’s bon mots about “sardines” began it all – and Olivier Giroud’s more recent verbals about “farts” has kept up the growing trend for fashionable philosophising in football. 

Now Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has entered the fray by insisting that he “can smell” the goals in his team.

Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Giroud all found the back of the net on Saturday as the Gunners thrashed Liverpool 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium. 

It means Arsenal now boast 15 different goalscorers this season – the most in the Premiership – a stat that has not gone unnoticed by Wenger.

“You smell that we can score goals,” said the Frenchman. “If you look at the number of goals we’ve scored now, 62 from 31 league games, that’s quite good with seven games to go. 

“We have a good mentality and good cohesion in the team. There is something happening that shows you that they are ready to fight for each other. 

“You can see that – you can’t cheat on that.” 

Arsenal have now climbed above the Manchester clubs and are sitting second in the Premier League table. With seven games to go in the big run-in, Wenger is adamant that his team just wants to “win, win and win”. 

He said: “If somebody is better than us, then well done, but we have to give our best until the end.”