Gunners boss Arsene Wenger insisted that Arsenal’s nightmare start to the season is over after clinching their sixth win in seven games in all competitions.
The Frenchman believes that his side is back in the title race as he celebrated his 21-year Arsenal reign with a 2-0 win over Brighton which took his side level on points with defending Premier League champions Chelsea.
And the Gunners boss believes that it was his decision not to hit the panic alarm after a humiliating 4-0 loss against Liverpool in August which has helped his side to prove the critics wrong.
Wenger said: “The last time we went into an international break was a nightmare because we had just lost successive games at Stoke and Liverpool.”
“This time we are going into an international break in better shape.”
“I knew that everybody would write us off after the Liverpool game and jump to conclusions.”
“But we played under special circumstances. It was the transfer window and some players had their heads half in and half out.”
“We have responded in a united way. We have only played seven games so it is far too early to come to any conclusions.”
Wenger, 67, had no idea that he was celebrating his 21st Arsenal anniversary on Sunday and he added: “I did not know about that.”
“When you are 21 years in a job you know you are going to have good and bad moments. Nobody can only fly.”
Brighton boss Chris Hughton said: “It’s always going to be difficult when you are a newly-promoted team up against a side with so much quality.”
“We’re still learning. But we’ve played Arsenal and City and we’ve not been beaten out of sight.”