Wenger relief with duck breaking
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was delighted to break their duck at Emirates stadium yesterday with a 3-0 win over Sheffield United.
The Gunners had failed to win in the previous two league matches at their impressive new 60,000-seater home.
And despite a comfortable scoreline in the end, Wenger's men were made to work hard for the three points by a Sheffield United side still rooted to the foot of the table without a top-flight victory of their own.
Eventually, Arsenal's patient build-up paid off, with William Gallas firing in his first goal for the club just after the hour mark.
It was soon 2-0 following an own goal from Blades captain Phil Jagielka and Thierry Henry's late header then sealed victory for Wenger, who celebrates 10 years at the club next week.
The Arsenal manager accepted: "It was not as easy as the result suggests.
"Sheffield United defended well and hid less than the other teams when they had the ball.
"After we did not score in the opening 15 minutes, you could see the fact we had not won here did play on the minds of our players.
"We were a bit nervous and not clean enough technically.
"At half-time we realised we had to do continue to do things well, defend well, attack well.
"We came back with more determination and quicker passing.
"Then we put them under pressure and the goal came from Gallas, who is a winner and has shown that again."
Wenger added: "You could see that for the team it [the goal] was a big relief. But overall I felt the goal would come if we had not made the mistake at the back.
"In the first half we gave them some liberties we should not have, but in the second half, we were much better."
Things could have turned out very different had United not seen a goal disallowed late in the first half.
Mikele Leigertwood lashed in a stunning strike from the edge of the area after the ball dropped following a corner. However, the whistle had already been blown because of dangerous play against Hulse, for an attempted scissors-kick in the six-yard box.
Wenger accepted: "It was a lucky moment for us, but in fairness the referee had blown just before.
"Would Jens have had that ball? I am not completely convinced."
The Gunners had failed to win in the previous two league matches at their impressive new 60,000-seater home.
And despite a comfortable scoreline in the end, Wenger's men were made to work hard for the three points by a Sheffield United side still rooted to the foot of the table without a top-flight victory of their own.
Eventually, Arsenal's patient build-up paid off, with William Gallas firing in his first goal for the club just after the hour mark.
It was soon 2-0 following an own goal from Blades captain Phil Jagielka and Thierry Henry's late header then sealed victory for Wenger, who celebrates 10 years at the club next week.
The Arsenal manager accepted: "It was not as easy as the result suggests.
"Sheffield United defended well and hid less than the other teams when they had the ball.
"After we did not score in the opening 15 minutes, you could see the fact we had not won here did play on the minds of our players.
"We were a bit nervous and not clean enough technically.
"At half-time we realised we had to do continue to do things well, defend well, attack well.
"We came back with more determination and quicker passing.
"Then we put them under pressure and the goal came from Gallas, who is a winner and has shown that again."
Wenger added: "You could see that for the team it [the goal] was a big relief. But overall I felt the goal would come if we had not made the mistake at the back.
"In the first half we gave them some liberties we should not have, but in the second half, we were much better."
Things could have turned out very different had United not seen a goal disallowed late in the first half.
Mikele Leigertwood lashed in a stunning strike from the edge of the area after the ball dropped following a corner. However, the whistle had already been blown because of dangerous play against Hulse, for an attempted scissors-kick in the six-yard box.
Wenger accepted: "It was a lucky moment for us, but in fairness the referee had blown just before.
"Would Jens have had that ball? I am not completely convinced."
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