Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and his man of the match Mathieu Flamini called for fans to keep the faith as the Gunners enter the business end of the season.
Down but not out
Following Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at the Emirates against Manchester City, Wenger declared that despite the side’s failing against the top sides this season, there is still a chance that they can win the Premier League entering the last six games.
“Mathematically we are still in there but it is not in our hands. That means you cannot say it is just depending on us and it is not realistic maybe to say that today.”
With seven points separating Arsenal and Everton for fourth place and the Merseyside outfit having two games in hand and still to play the North London side, Wenger is also wary of a negative reaction to the City result.
“We have to look above us and behind us as well, because behind us they are coming as well.”
Form is temporary, class is permanent
Arsenal were outplayed in the first half against Manchester City, the Sky Blues going 1-0 ahead after a swift move ended in Spaniard David Silva slotting into an empty net.
The boss admitted that his army, “were a bit nervy at the start, insecure in our attitude by our last two results.”
However, his half-time team talk must have had huge impact, as the Gunners came back into the second half with a 52nd minute finish by the tireless Mathieu Flamini.
Fighting Flamini
The boss was full of praise for his match saving star, telling the media, “I like Flamini because I signed him at the surprise of everybody and I think he has done extremely well. He gives us the balance and qualities that are needed in the team.”
The midfielder claimed himself that the team needed a lift in the form of a positive result after his own goal on Tuesday night left them ‘really, really flat’.
Flamini was adamant that it was a shift in tactics that can be credited to Arsenal’s second half revival.
“We played higher up the pitch and controlled the game much better. I was confident we could win it, but with what we have gone through it was very important not to make a defensive mistake."
Ambitious Army
While the player admitted that the team must ‘take it game by game’, the manager defended the North London club’s record in an erratic season.
“If you look at our results since the start of the season, we are in the semi-final of the FA Cup. We knocked out Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton, we lost against Bayern with 10 men and played a 1-1.”
“You don't do that if you're terrible and with the players we have out and what we have shown today, I think it's remarkable.”
Not over till’ the final whistle
With a game at Goodison Park to an in-form Everton side next Sunday, the Gunners have a chance to close the gap on their title rivals and widen the gap on other European pretenders.
After Arsenal lost 6-0 to Chelsea, everyone ruled them out the title race. But after seeing Crystal Palace outplay and beat the Southwest London club 1-0, it shows that ANYTHING can happen, in the Barclays Premier League.
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