Wenger still believes

ARSENE Wenger insists he never questioned the character of his Arsenal side as they continued their turnaround with a vital win at Southampton.

The Gunners kept alive their hopes of a top-four finish i n the Premier League as goals from Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud saw them win 2-0 at St Mary’s last night.

After a spell of six league defeats i n 11 games, Wenger’s side went from title contenders to sixth place.

The run also saw Wenger come under intense scrutiny as he refused to reveal if he would be signing a new deal to remain at the club beyond the end of the current season.

But a win over fellow top-four hopefuls Manchester United on Sunday was followed up with a first win at St Mary’s since 2003.

It means they leapfrog the Red Devils into fifth position, three points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City with three games left, as Wenger looks to secure another season of Champions League football.

And the Frenchman said he never doubted his players during t heir sticky run which still threatens to cost them a place at Europe’s top table.

“I never questioned the character of my side,” he said.

“We went through a bad patch. It’s a good opportunity to show your character, how you come back and how you recover. Maybe the City game gave us confidence.”

Wayne Rooney