Arsene Wenger: ‘What is important is what is happening inside the club – this is a united team with a top-quality attitude’

Published: 27 November, 2014
by TOM FOOT at the Emirates Stadium

Champions League
ARSENAL 2, BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0

UNDER-fire Arsene Wenger said he was “very proud” of his Champions League record after qualifying for the competition's knockout stages at the Emirates last night (Wednesday).

After watching the 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund, the Arsenal boss said consistency was one of the hardest things to achieve at a football club but admitted “it was not enough”.

He said: “When you work in football you see it is not easy to be consistent. I am very proud of that (qualifying record). I don’t worry about what other people think. What is important is what is happening inside the club. This is a united team with a top-quality attitude.

“All I hope for is a different guy for the draw. If you look at the last six years we always have had a difficult draw. Look who has qualified this year, there are three or four teams we don’t want.”

Arsenal could still top the group if they beat Galatasaray, and Anderlect defeat Dortmund in the final group stage match.

But Wenger said it was “90 per cent” certain that his side would come second.

After the humbling defeat to Man United on Saturday, Arsenal started with purpose. Yaya Sanogo scored with his first touch after reacting quickly to scramble in from close range.

In the second half, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – a cut above the rest on the night – struck the crossbar with a sweet volley from outside the box on 54 minutes.

Minutes later, Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 with a perfectly curled strike into the far corner in a rare moment of brilliance in an unusually sluggish performance.

Dortmund offered little going forward and never looked like coming back.

Wenger added: “Overall we looked always dangerous. We were under pressure because we fell down on Saturday after controlling the game. 

“We were maybe a victim of our generous attitude going forward. But tonight we were determined and committed.”

ARSENAL: Martinez, Gibbs, Monreal, Mertesacker, Chambers, Arteta (Flamini, 66), Ramsey, Cazorla, Sanchez, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Campbell, 89), Sanogo (Podolski, 79). 
Subs not used: Huddart, Koscielny, Rosicky, Podolski (79), Flamini (66), Campbell (89), Bellerin. 
Attendance: 60,054