Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Wenger: Deeney comments spurred Gunners on
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger admits Troy Deeney’s derogatory comment gave his side the motivation to beat Watford and return to winning ways in the Premier League.
Goals from Shkodran Mustafi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan ensured the Gunners stopped a three-game league losing streak in a 3-0 victory and also made Deeney eat his words.
In the wake of Watford’s win over Arsenal in October’s reverse fixture, Deeney suggested the Gunners lacked spirit but it was the Hornets striker who had a difficult afternoon this time around as he missed a second-half penalty in a comprehensive defeat.
The Gunners were reminded of his comments before the game and Wenger says they were a factor.
“You cannot be a footballer without pride, or any sportsman without pride,” he said.
“All these things come in, for how much I don’t know, but of course it plays a part.
“I wanted to absolutely win this game, it was difficult, but it gets us out of that negative spirit that we were in.
“We need more games, we had a nightmare week, overall there is some work still to do.
“I don’t know how much negativity is out there, I focus on my job, I have shown in 22 years I can do that and I respect everybody’s opinion but I focus on my job with total commitment.”
Although Arsenal did breeze to the points in the end, they were reliant on goalkeeper Petr Cech who saved Deeney’s second-half spot-kick along with several other key stops.