Arsene Wenger hails Arsenal response at Chelsea after Liverpool loss
Arsene Wenger hailed Arsenal's battling performance in the 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Sunday, saying it was "vital" the team showed a strong response to the heavy defeat they suffered at Liverpool.
Arsenal looked a totally different team at Stamford Bridge to the one that lost 4-0 at Anfield in their last away game, putting in a disciplined and determined display against the defending Premier League champions.
They even came close to netting a winner on two occasions as midfielder Aaron Ramsey hit the post and Shkodran Mustafi had a goal ruled out for offside.
For Wenger, though, the most important thing was the manner of his team's performance after they were criticised for their lack of effort at Liverpool.
"I felt that was a game with intensity, with two teams going for it, battles all over the pitch, and we responded well," Wenger said. "I like when the team shows that kind of response. I feel it's a deserved point.
"With a bit more freedom we could have won this game with one or two goals difference, but it was important we didn't lose. You could see that in the last 20 minutes."
The result still leaves Arsenal in the bottom half of the Premier League table with seven points from five games. But it was Arsenal's first point at Stamford Bridge since 2011, and Ramsey also said the team proved a point to some of their doubters.
"We needed that against a top team. In recent years we have struggled here but we are able to compete against the best," Ramsey told Sky Sports. "We showed that we can create chances and on another day we my have nicked that. We needed that after the Liverpool game. We played in their half, higher up. We wanted to get a result and we got one.
"We are in a good place, we just have to build on it."
Arsenal were without the injured Mesut Ozil and Wenger opted to leave Alexis Sanchez on the bench again as the Chile forward regains full match fitness. Danny Welbeck then had to come off with an injury in the second half.
"He has a groin problem," Wenger said. "I don't know how serious it is. It looks a 'good' groin problem -- not an easy one."
Chelsea finished the game with 10 men after David Luiz was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Sead Kolasinac, but Arsenal could not take advantage in the final minutes.
"It looked to me like excessive force," Wenger said about the red card decision. "Kolasinac was not completely on his feet. Even Luiz would accept there was a big distance and he went in too strong."
This was the fourth meeting between these sides since May, after Arsenal won the FA Cup final and Community Shield and Chelsea dominated a preseason friendly in Beijing in July.
Wenger said critics shouldn't be too surprised by Arsenal's performance, given their previous two wins at Wembley.
"People forget we beat Chelsea in the cup final two months ago [sic]," he said. "We've shown that quality many times. When you deliver the kind of performance we had at Liverpool, you have to accept the criticism. You can only respond on the pitch, and we did that today.
"Today was a question: what would happen? With the attitude and determination, it was vital for us to come out with a solid performance. We did that."
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