Cape Town - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels his side always "looked
in control" against Manchester City after carving out a 2-0 win at the
Etihad Stadium on Sunday, reports Football411.
Santi Cazorla took home the match ball after opening the scoring from the penalty spot before providing the assist for Olivier Giroud's second-half header to give the Gunners their first win at the Citizens in over four years.
“We kept a good control of the game," Wenger told Sky Sports. "We had the consistent discipline for 90 minutes that's needed in big games, we looked in control away from home and we finally got a big win in a big game away from home.
"We weren’t far off at Liverpool (a 2-2 draw at Anfield last month), but today we did."
The Frenchman added: "We played high up in their half and deep in our half. It worked because we wanted to make the space very tight in our final third, especially in front of the box where (David) Silva's so influential.
"Sometimes away from home (referring to last season’s 6-3 defeat), you are one or two-nil down after 20 minutes, so you have no choice other than to open yourself up.
"The first goal dictates the way of the game 80 per cent of the time. Today we scored first and that changes the game. I think we could have even done better many times on counter-attacks.
"What is pleasing is that it (the win) reinforces the belief of the team. We have five very important months in front of us and the feeling you can do well is very important for a group of players.
"Some players were a bit short physically because they've just come back from injury, but overall, we did that very well and that’s down to discipline."
Santi Cazorla took home the match ball after opening the scoring from the penalty spot before providing the assist for Olivier Giroud's second-half header to give the Gunners their first win at the Citizens in over four years.
“We kept a good control of the game," Wenger told Sky Sports. "We had the consistent discipline for 90 minutes that's needed in big games, we looked in control away from home and we finally got a big win in a big game away from home.
"We weren’t far off at Liverpool (a 2-2 draw at Anfield last month), but today we did."
The Frenchman added: "We played high up in their half and deep in our half. It worked because we wanted to make the space very tight in our final third, especially in front of the box where (David) Silva's so influential.
"Sometimes away from home (referring to last season’s 6-3 defeat), you are one or two-nil down after 20 minutes, so you have no choice other than to open yourself up.
"The first goal dictates the way of the game 80 per cent of the time. Today we scored first and that changes the game. I think we could have even done better many times on counter-attacks.
"What is pleasing is that it (the win) reinforces the belief of the team. We have five very important months in front of us and the feeling you can do well is very important for a group of players.
"Some players were a bit short physically because they've just come back from injury, but overall, we did that very well and that’s down to discipline."