Alan Smith interviews Arsene Wenger
On why our performances have improved:
What has changed is that the confidence is higher and we get more credit. It is a relief because in the end anything that is consistent negatively becomes a problem.
On why we struggled at the start of the season:
We were 1-0 or 2-0 down after 20 minutes in many games. You need to be exceptional to win a game 2-0 down away from home.
On the revelation of Francis Coquelin:
Initially Coquelin is here for his seventh season. I took him because he was a ball winner. Then he became world champion with the France U20s, and became more box-to-box. I had to persuade him to be a DM again. His quality is to win the ball, he's gotten a lot of credit for it in the last few games. He is now 24 and that's an age when a player becomes a player.
On the luxury of selection when everyone is fit:
You forget Sanogo, Campbell has gone to Villarreal, Podolski to Inter...that shows the problem I had to fit them all in. If they're all fit of course I have plenty of offensive players.
On if he has a best XI in mind, or if it depends on opposition:
More or less, yes [I have the best XI in my head]
On the defensive problems:
What we missed at the start of the season was consistency defensively. [Problem with defence is] confidence certainly...communication certainly.
On attack vs defence:
Our trend it's always a bit too much in the structure of the team to go forward more than to defend.
If criticism of players is fair:
If it's just an emotional criticism you can understand that.
Really curious what the starting XI would be when Sanchez is fit. Will Özil be dropped?
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With all fit i believe it would have to be ofcourse fitness and opponent would have to factor in.
Giroud Alexis Ozil Santi Theo LeCoq Monreal Kos Per Hector ------Pole-----
I rate Monreal and Gibbs equally but Monreally nicks it because of experience. Hector has everything to be better than Debuchy with experience he plays all day long. LeCoq is a ball winner with full backs going up we need his pace and ability to tackle and intercept, he also covers lot of ground, i always liked him. Happy that he is now showing his potential. You cant even debate about the rest. Giroud is soo underrated all i wish is if he had bit of pace.
Wojciech is No1 for me..he does loose his head every now and then but that's part of growing up.
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