Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger calls on Alexis Sanchez to take down Manchester City as he backs wantaway forward to stay focused

  • Arsenal beat Swansea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon
  • The victory leaves Arsene Wenger's team fifth in the Premier League
  • The Gunners travel to face Manchester City at the Eihad on Sunday

Arsene Wenger claimed he was unaware this was his 800th game in charge of Arsenal until he saw it on a TV tickertape, walking out of the tunnel just before 3pm on Saturday.

To some fans at the Emirates it might have felt like his eight thousandth, as a familiar tale of frustration unfolded until the two goals in a ten-minute passage of play after the interval which finally cracked Swansea's stoic defence.

The result was a fourth consecutive victory since Troy Deeney's analysis that Wenger's team lacked 'cojones'. The question remains whether it is the Watford striker of the veteran French manager who has given the more effective team talk in recent weeks.  


Arsene Wenger looks on during Arsenal's victory over Swansea on Saturday

Arsene Wenger looks on during Arsenal's victory over Swansea on Saturday

What can be said, even in the wake of this somewhat unconvincing win, is that Wenger has again calmed the talk about whether his epoch in North London should be brought to a close.

He might yet find that relief is temporary. Beating an albeit combative Swansea by the odd goal is one thing, but now there is a trip to Manchester City and, after the international break, the home derby against Tottenham.

There will be a groundhog day feel if it goes wrong in those next two league encounters, regardless of Thursday's Europa League visit from Red Star Belgrade. More defining moments in a season will have failed to be seized.

Wenger agreed that the trip to the Etihad will be seen as putting his team up against the gold standard: 'That's normal because at the moment they are on a good run and people always extend these good runs to the end of the season, but at some stage they have to be stopped. It's true because nobody does that, run away.'

After a match when the bargain basement Sead Kolasinac was an outstanding player, much attention will be on Alexis Sanchez next weekend, given his previous desire for a move to Manchester. 

Wenger has called on Alexis Sanchez to find his best form against Manchester City

Wenger has called on Alexis Sanchez to find his best form against Manchester City

Will that business prove a distraction to the Chilean or might he try too hard? 'I am not concerned,' insisted Wenger. ' Because I am not suspicious of the performances or the desire to win of a football player. When you are a player you have a social contract with the rest of the team and I never question that. Once you don't respect that, it's difficult to say that you play football.

'I think he's coming back stronger physically. He runs after a goal at the moment so he's a bit frustrated when he doesn't score. I'm not worried about it. He works hard and it will come back quickly. You can never try too hard.

'At the moment he's marked well, they double up on him, but he still creates many dangerous situations, he just has not to worry too much. He has always scored and that will come back.'

Wenger gives every impression of glacial indifference to his 800 landmark. 

'I didn't know. I saw it on the television just before the game walking out because I watched Man United against Tottenham, and it was written that it was my 800th game.'

Some will be relieved to hear that he sees a thousand matches in charge as a very distant prospect.

Sanchez has cut a frustrated figure for the majority of the current campaign 

Sanchez has cut a frustrated figure for the majority of the current campaign 

'For me it would be difficult, I need 200 more and that's five years you know. One thing about having such a long experience is that it makes you humble unless you are completely stupid. And I refuse to be completely stupid so you never know how long you go.'

Paul Clement has only 767 games to last at Swansea before he catches up with Saturday's opposite number. He marvelled at Wenger's shelf life, while cautioning against the temptation to underestimate the value of experience.

'It is not a guarantee for success, changing managers,' he said.' Chelsea and Real Madrid have done it that way but some have been fantastically successful by having longevity, Manchester United are one and Arsenal another.

'He continues to win major trophies, I know the club are frustrated they are not up there winning the Premier League but it is a lot more competitive now. There used to be two or three teams that had a realistic chance, now there are four or five.

'Bayern Munich have just turned to a 72-year-old to steady the ship. So I don't think age is relevant if you are fit and well and can draw on that experience.'

His own longevity in the job will probably depend on whether he can repeat last season's feat of keeping Swansea up. While this was a fifth defeat in six games there was enough resourcefulness and commitment in their performance to suggest that he probably will.

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