Arsene Wenger: Arsenal players have ‘fantastic spirit’ and will bounce back

“It is the quality of our performance that counts and we were not good enough to win the game [against Southampton]”.

– Arsenal have scored in each of their last 29 Premier League games against newly-promoted opposition.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he is confident his side will respond to their shocking 0-4 defeat against Southampton within 48 hours.

“Southampton made the game very physical and we lost too may challenges and that explains why we lost”, said Wenger. Wenger had complained about an offside in the buildup to the first goal, a foul by Shane Long before the second and an erroneously awarded corner on the third.

On Boxing Day day when league leaders Leicester City (38 points) lost to Liverpool, second placed Arsenal (36), coming off a big triumph over Manchester City in their last match, were expected to soar high.

“I’ve said many times, it’s down to consistency to fight in every single game and find the resources to produce a top-level performance in every single game”.

It was 2-0 ten minutes into the second half when a patient counter-attacking move ended with Long finishing well from Mané’s assist. It did the manager no favors, but at the very least he did not turn on his own players who were the most culpable on Saturday evening.

“These players have fantastic spirit and they can show that in 48 hours”, the Frenchman added.

I do think we’ll see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain given a start in place of Joel Campbell but otherwise it’ll be the same front-line that faced Southampton. It’s insane to say, but it was a good shot I think.

“I like to analyse the game and if you lose 4-0 and you talk about the referee it’s not my way to analyse a football game”.

“I think the game plan was ideal because Shane Long and Sadio (Mane) create a lot of problems to the defenders of Arsenal. He’s a different number nine than Graziano and that’s important”.

Bilic – already without the likes of Diafra Sakho, Dimitri Payet and Andy Carroll – lost defensive duo James Tomkins and Aaron Cresswell at Villa Park, with the latter having put West Ham in front.

Martina, a summer signing from FC Twente, netted from 25 yards out with a sublime half-volley with the outside of his boot at St. Mary’s.

“We didn’t sign the player to score goals”, Koeman said.

Martina, who had not played for Southampton since September, was a man of few words when asked about his wonder strike on BT Sport 1, saying: “Yes, it was a great goal, but…what a feeling”.