Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has urged his players to keep confounding the critics and maintain their fine Premier League-form at home to Everton on Saturday.
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The Gunners resume domestic action looking to move to the top of the Premier League, with leaders Manchester City taking on rivals United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Wenger is confident his side – who sit second in the table, two points off the pace – can maintain their momentum for what would be a fourth-straight top-flight victory.
“We are in a good run and that can help the level of confidence and belief going into the next game,” he said. “You gain credibility through consistency and when people think this could be a game where we could slip and you respond positively.
“It shows that our consistency is questioned by many people which is not based on mathematics and statistics, but more on preconceived ideas and it is down to us to change people’s minds.
“The longer we last (at the top), the more people will give us credit for it.”
Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score against Bayern, just as he had done at Watford. But England forward Theo Walcott has retained his place at the head of the attack.
“It is always hard,” said Wenger. “They are top players, I consider the form, the game on the day. At the end of the season both will have played their share of games, but at the moment it is Theo (starting), in a few weeks it might be Giroud. What is important is that both contribute.”
Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey is set to miss out with the hamstring problem picked up during Tuesday’s fine 2-0 Champions League win against Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez has stressed the importance of Everton not letting their promising start to the season go to waste.
Three games, three assists and two goals… It’s @Arsenal’s man of the moment, @MesutOzil1088 #AFCvEFC pic.twitter.com/plp67FQ4po
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 23, 2015
Prior to the disappointing 3-0 home loss to Manchester United last Saturday, the Merseysiders’ only top-flight defeat for the campaign to date had come at the hands of Manchester City.
A 3-0 win at Southampton and 3-1 home victory over champions Chelsea had been the stand-out results as Everton collected 13 points from their first eight fixtures.
And Toffees boss Martinez, whose men are currently ninth in the table, said ahead of today’s trip to second-placed Arsenal: “The start of the season has been as challenging as we expected, but really, really good. “I think we have showed signs of a really interesting season ahead.
“But, now, the start of the season will mean nothing if we don’t carry on with some consistency. I do feel this period until the next international break is a very important one for us.”
Midfielder Tom Cleverley could return to action this afternoon after he recovered from an ankle knock.
