A run of four straight wins has prompted Arsene Wenger to declare that Arsenal have “recovered from crisis”.
The run comes after a spell of four consecutive losses which included back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Manchester City, first in the Carabao Cup final and then in the Premier League four days later. Wenger has been impressed with his side’s response to that run of results.
“We were very disappointed with our result against [Manchester] City,” said Wenger. “It takes time to grieve and to recover.
“But because the mentality in the team is very good, strong and healthy – we’re recovered.
“I think always you judge a team by the way they come out of a crisis. On that front I believe that is very positive on our side.
“There’s some extra pressure on us to do extremely well in this competition but that’s part of being where we are.
“We have to see it in a way it’s an opportunity we want to take and keep the priorities right and of course focus on how well we play together, how we want to play.”
Wenger’s own future at the club has yet again come under scrutiny following another underperforming season, with Arsenal 13 points outside the top four and a whopping 33 off the pace set by City.
The displays have seen fans call for Wenger to go, and attendance has dropped at the Emirates Stadium despite the recent upturn in fortunes.
Ahead of Thursday’s first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against CSKA Moscow, however, Wenger backs the fans to get behind their team.
“I’m not worried about that, the crowd when something is at stake is always behind us,” he said. “What will decide the attitude of the crowd is the quality of our game.
“I’m always concerned when our stadium is not completely full but I don’t think that will be a problem. The problem for us is our performance.”
