Published: 6 December, 2012
by STEVE BARNETT

­ARSENE Wenger insists it would be a mistake to “go overboard” in assessing Arsenal’s string of poor results and says he remains confident the players will turn things around.

The Gunners missed out on the chance to take top spot in their Champions League group on Tuesday when they lost 2-1 against Olympiakos in Greece.

Fans were still reeling from Saturday’s 2-0 defeat against Swansea at the Emirates which saw Arsenal drop to 10th in the Premier League, albeit leaving them just five points off a top-four place. But despite all the doom and gloom surrounding the club Wenger expects a response from his players. “There’s a problem of course,” he said. “What is important when you have a problem is to do something about it.

“The second thing is the strength to do something about it and I’m confident we have both. I believe that we must develop the quality of our game and continue to play better in the way we want to play.

“Let’s not go overboard,” the Frenchman added. “Every period is difficult, in every game you focus to get the best out of your team. We lost on Saturday and, of course, we are not happy with that.

“But I am confident that we have a strong team, that we have a strong spirit in the side and that will come out.

“We’ve rebuilt the team a little in two ways – first in bringing in new players, secondly in getting some players back from a long-term injury, like Wilshere.

“Patience and keeping our mental strength will turn it around. What is important is to improve the way we play and keep faith in our players.

“That is very important to me. If you look at people’s reaction, everything is dramatic.”