Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WENGER’S 21 GUN SALUTE
Sanchez backheel lights up Arsene’s anniversary victory
ALEXIS SANCHEZ came up with the party piece as Arsene Wenger celebrated his 21st anniversary at Arsenal by insisting “nothing is permanent”.
The Frenchman admits he was tempted to quit before signing a new two-year deal in the summer.
And he came under more fire following the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Liverpool before the last international break. But there was not a hint of tension in the air at the Emirates as Wenger shook hands (left) with Brighton boss Chris Hughton.
The Gunners are unbeaten in seven games and this mundane win – enlivened by the cheeky Chilean’s backheel to set up the second goal – took them level with Chelsea and just a point behind Tottenham.
This was Arsenal’s 11th consecutive home win i n all competitions, Wenger admitting: ‘‘Our last international break was a nightmare – this one will be a bit better.” Yet at a
club never too far away from another crisis, he was also philosophical about his latest landmark after taking over in north London on October 1, 1996.
Wenger said: “I have kept focus on the job always, in good and bad circumstances.
“When you are 21 years in a job you know that you have good and bad moments.
“No one can make 21 yearsy and only fly.
“What I love in the game is to deal with the bad moments and find the response.
“I knew that after the game in Liverpool everybody would write us off and I knew it just depends onn us, how much wee respond. Nothingg is permanent. .
You’re not bad in a permanent way,, you can do some--thing about it.
“We respondedd in a united wayy and we have put t some wins s together and some e good performancess as well.”
So are Arsenal, l, who made nine changes from their Europa League side, back in the title race?
“Too early,” responded Le Prof. “Seven games played, 31 to go.
“Last year after six games, Manchester City were top with 18 points, so let’s not go too quick to conclusions.
“They played outstanding yesterday but it is a long way to g go.” Alexandre Lacazette had hit the post and Shane Duffy cleared off the line before Nacho Mon real opened the scoring after 16 minutes.
Unfortunately, the result was in little doubt after thatt and the fare was hardly an n argument for giving a bigger slice of foreign TV money to the big clubs.
Sanchez provided a touch of class for the second after 56 minutes whenn his backheel set up p Alex Iwobi for his first goal of the season.
The Nigerian s said: “I didn’t t think Alexis would find me but it shows the skill he has.
“To have eyess i in the back of his h head and backh heel to me was a amazing.”
Wenger wants mm ore goals fro mm t the 21-year-old. . H He said :“Playerss l like him must score 10 goals a season and must give between six and 10 assists. That iss what I want.”