Clashing with Liverpool is supposed to be the first major test for the young Gunners and though they mustered only a 1-1 draw, it was still a performance worthy of praise from their boss.
“I was pleased with the performance and attitude of the team,” Wenger said. “I thought they showed fantastic quality today to come from behind against a team that is so strong on counter-attack and on set-pieces.”
Arsenal trailed to Steven Gerrard’s seventh-minute free kick but the inspirational Fabregas toe-poked a shot past goalkeeper Reina with 10 minutes remaining to deprive Liverpool of three points.
It may seem strange that Wenger was full of humility in the 7-0 demolition of Slavia but yet so confident of his team’s title winning credentials after this draw.
He said: “We played how we wanted to play, using our technical qualities and our movement. What is different from last season? We have confidence now and we are more mature.”
He shrugged off the impending match against Manchester United by saying it is just another test and they now go into it mentally stronger. Definitely a good way to prep up his team before meeting his arch rival who is now breathing down their neck.
But mental games aside, this was indeed a hard-fought battle against Liverpool and those who assumed a walkover over a team looking out of sorts is seriously wrong. As seen in many matches, Liverpool is a team which always punches above their strength in big matches but lose their way against lowly opponents. That is why they enjoy great success in the Champions League but the Premier League title remains an elusive dream.
Liverpool remains unbeaten but that is scant consolation as they have fallen to sixth place with 20 points. Rafael Benitez made a gamble by fielding Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso (both barely recovered from their injuries), and it did not pay off when the duo limped off during the match.
Torres suffered a recurrence of his adductor muscle problem, while Alonso was forced off when his metatarsal injury flared up again.
Overall, this is definitely a bad week for Benitez as their Champions League hopes suffered a dent, they have slided further down the table and serious injury concerns to their increasingly thin squad.
Time is running out for Benitez as the directors have given him an ultimatum to win the title this season. I’d hate to see him go as the club may end up in worse shape if the next manager turns out to be a bigger flop. But can someone knock some sense into Benitez that his rotation policy is detrimental to the team?
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