Arsenal not giving up on top four: Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger admitted his side’s 2-1 win
over relegation-threatened Middlesbrough on Monday
was vital as the Gunners look to revive their top four
hopes, according to a statement on the club’s website
(www.arsenal.com).
“It was a committed game that we needed to win. I
thought in the first half it was tight because they
defended very well and we were tested just after half-
time because it came back to 1-1 and then we were
tested mentally and we found the response we needed
and that’s what we wanted. It was one of the last
chances to stay in the league and that’s why we never
gave up. We were riding our luck a little bit in one or
two occasions on crosses, but overall we were a bit
more solid defensively today,”

Arsenal’s season seems to have imploded at a crucial
juncture yet again and Wenger admitted his side’s
confidence was low and the dressing room was muted:
“Of course, of course. The players care. When you
don’t win your confidence goes quickly and comes
back slowly, so of course you could feel even in the
way we played that there was nervousness there.”
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil both scored to give the
Gunners an important away 2-1 win at Middlesbrough
and he praised his stars, adding that they remain vital
to the club’s future: “Of course. But their future, they
have still one year of contract after [this season] so I
don’t think there is an urgency about that. Anyway, I
said that many times. You perform on the football
pitch because you love to play football.”