Wenger: Why we were better in the second half

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
28 Aug	3:00 PM	P	Blackburn Rovers (A)	2	1	Win

Manager Arsène Wenger says that he is proud of his team's performance against Blackburn Rovers, winning 2-1 in what many billed would be a difficult fixture.

On the contrary, we actually have a good record against Blackburn, winning six times in the last ten games.

Striker Theo Walcott opened the scoring against a physical and industrial Blackburn side, scoring his fourth goal in two games. But sloppy defending allowed the home side back into the game.

Arsenal were much better in the second half, controlling the pace and possession, being patient with their chances. The winning goal finally came, with Andrey Arshavin pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area and tucking the chance away.

Wenger said: "It is always difficult to win here [at Ewood Park] but I felt that we had a good start, scored a great goal and after that, in my opinion, were a bit too nervous dealing with Blackburn's game.

"In the second half I felt we were calmer, put the ball on the ground well and controlled the game much better and it was just a question of time.

"Of course, in the last 15 or 20 minutes you can always be tested and need a bit of luck but we had the right resilience and commitment and as long as you cannot score the third goal you are always under threat with a team like Blackburn.

"Because we had last year [a 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park] and bad memories here and because we know they play the kind of game that we will not like, so we didn't have enough confidence to deal with that. In the second half we were much better.

"For me it is important to beat Blackburn in a difficult away game. I do not make a personal battle of the game. I feel it is important, as I said before the game, that if you have ambition in this league, you have to win at Blackburn.

"If you fail to win at Blackburn and go to clubs like that and don't win, your ambition will not be respected by the other teams. So it was an important test for us.

"I believe experience brings you calm in the box, defensively and offensively and that is where we have a little bit more experience, even if on one or two occasions today we were a lit lucky. But who would not be unsettled by the kind of game Blackburn gave us today?"

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