Sunderland vs Arsenal: Arsene Wenger relieved after coming through 'mental test' to prove title credentials
Despite urging caution over getting ahead of themselves, Wenger was pleased that his Arsenal side refused to fold when they conceded an equaliser in the 4-1 rout of Sunderland
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsene Wenger claimed Arsenal passed a crucial mental test in their pursuit of the Premier League title after sealing a 4-1 victory against bottom club Sunderland.
Two goals apiece from Alexis Sanchez and substitute Olivier Giroud completed an ultimately-comfortable win for Wenger’s team at the Stadium of Light.
But having been hauled level at 1-1 by Jermain Defoe’s second-half penalty, Wenger admitted that he feared his players could sink to a costly defeat against David Moyes’s team.
However, three goals in six minutes left Sunderland still waiting for their first league victory of the season and Wenger, who has not guided Arsenal to the title since 2004, believes the manner of his team’s win proved their psychological strength.
"It was a mental test when we were at 1-1,” Wenger said. “We missed so many chances, so many opportunities and I was worried we could lose, but we have shown great strength to bounce back.
"In the Premier League, at 1-1, you can lose the game but it was how we respond.
“Do we panic, give up, feel sorry for ourselves? We responded well and in the end it was a comfortable win.”
Despite the eventual scoreline, Sunderland manager Moyes claimed that his team were hard done by.
"It was tough to take and I certainly didn't think we deserved to lose 4-1,” he said. “We put up a really good show to stick with Arsenal when they were good.
"We fought really hard to stay in the game and we grew into the game. We were the better team at one each, but they have that quality.
"If you lose goals to Arsenal with great interplay then you hold your hands up but I'm disappointed we lost two goals to crosses."
Having dropped two points at home to Middlesbrough last week in a 0-0 stalemate at the Emirates, Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to 14 games with the victory on Wearside.
And Wenger admitted it was crucial for his players to taste victory on the back of the Middlesbrough result.
"It was an important result for us,” he said. “We had six wins, then one draw at home which was disappointing and a second draw or defeat would have been like we had dropped our level.
“I am happy with the performance and result, and our spirit as well.
“I would have signed up for 2-1, but the last ten minutes were relaxing for us. Giroud had two touches and two goals, so that shows you the quality on the bench when you have to make decisions.”
Despite claiming top spot ahead of the 3pm kick-offs, Wenger played down the importance of moving to the summit of the table.
“It’s where everybody wants to be, but it’s too early,” he said. “There are so many good teams in the league, but it is a good feeling to be top.”
Sunderland, in contrast, remain anchored to the foot of the table having equalled Manchester City’s record of the worst start to a season after ten games – set in 1995-96 – when Alan Ball’s team were relegated after claiming just two points from their opening ten fixtures.
But Moyes insists that, with a full squad, Sunderland can escape the bottom three.
"Once we get one or two of the injured players back, that will give us some more options and that will give us a better chance,” Moyes said. “The message is the players are giving everything they can.
“It was not through the lack of effort, or the lack of trying, they played a team with a lot of quality.
“I don’t think they collapsed. I think we lost it to quality goals after they brought Giroud off the bench. We lost three goals crosses. We just have to do better,
"We are not in a good position and need to play better. The players are doing their best, but you will only ever be judged by your results."
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