Clichy: Small details make the difference

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
24 Oct	3:00 PM	P	West Ham United (A)	2	2	Draw

Defender Gaël Clichy has urged the team to stay focused during matches and not let two goal leads slip again. The Gunners were leading 2-0 against West Ham and cruising but quite spectacularly succumbed to a 2-2 draw.

The Frenchman is aware that the dropped points against West Ham lost Arsenal the initiative in the title race, as they would have been 3 points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in-hand with a higher goal difference.

West Ham scored from a free-kick and a penalty, both controversial decisions but Clichy says that there should have been more focus and less complacency.

Clichy said: "We were in control of the game, but it is not enough because we have to win games and stop losing points like this because it is a big disappointment.

"We have the quality, it is just small details that make the difference and we know that. On set-pieces you have to be focused and referee decisions are not in our hands.

"The Premier League is really tough - even at 3-0 up you can concede a draw or lose the game. That shows you the level of the competition and the teams we are playing against.

"That is good for English football, but we should have won the game.

"We know what we have done right and wrong. When you make a mistake or have a bad game that the best way to forget it is to play as soon as possible."

Manager Arsène Wenger also rued his side's missed opportunity at seizing the initiative in the title race.

The 60-year-old is aware that the championship will be tighter than it was last season, seeing all the teams in the top four stumble one way or another already.

Wenger said: "In our job you have no luxury to miss opportunities. It is our job to get points when you deserve them and sometimes to get points when you don't deserve them.

"We didn't get the points when we deserved them and that means we have not made the maximum of what we should have done.

"We have a great chance [in the Premier League] this year but you cannot repeat this kind of performance and not come out with the three points."

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