Arsene Wenger says better balance in the team and the squad has gone a long way to bringing about the recent run of good form.
Since losing to Sp*rs at White Hart Lane on February 7th, Arsenal have won eight Premier League in a row, driving up the table into second place, and the manager believes having players back from injury and adequate replacements for those stricken are key factors in that.
“What people forgot is that we had big players out for four months this season,” he said despite the fact nobody really forgot that at all. “Six or seven players from the squad completely out. So that made a big difference.
“We have a better balance in the team and some players have made it like Coquelin, who contributes to the balance of the team. Hector Bellerin as well has come into the team.
“And big players like Koscielny, like Ozil, like Giroud have been out four months in the season – four months the three together!
“I have a quality bench and we even have quality players at home like Chamberlain, Arteta, Wilshere. I didn’t even try Debuchy. We have a big squad and I think we have quality. Let’s see how we finish the season and after see how we do next season.”
Meanwhile, the Arseblog News Hound has noticed an interesting trend. As mentioned above Arsenal are 8 games unbeaten since losing to Sp*rs. That follows up a run of 8 wins and 2 draws when they beat us in 2012/13, and 7 wins and 1 draw following their success in the 2011/12 season.
By comparison, after beating us this season they lost their next game, as they did in 2012/13 and could only manage a draw in 2011/12.
It’s almost as if they give so much to win it leaves them spent and, rather hilariously, spurs us (pun very much intended) on in a serious way.