Arsenal have proved they have team spirit, Cesc Fàbregas is invaluable to Chelsea despite sub’s role and Gylfi Sigurdsson is the man to guide Swansea to safety
Are Arsenal made of sterner stuff these days? It is not the first time the question has been aired in recent years, and the answer usually goes down a predictably shaky path. Having said that, Arsène Wenger has observed a few clues in their victory against a strong Stoke City side that give him quiet optimism. Among the good habits his team are enjoying this season, the capacity to come back from a deficit encourages him. “It’s the sixth time that we are down in the game and come back or win since the start of the season,” he said. “That’s not a coincidence. It doesn’t happen just because you say: ‘Come on, you have to keep fighting.’ That means there is something in the team that is quite strong. We have to keep the team energy in the side, and everybody has to take care of that.” The scorer of the equaliser, Theo Walcott, echoed that sentiment, and stressed that everyone in the squad is keyed up to do so. “The manager always digs that into us – how important the whole squad is. When called upon everyone who has been involved coming off the bench or starting has done a fantastic job and that is the difference this year to previous years where maybe we weren’t quite ready as a whole squad.” Managing rotation is on Wenger’s mind before the matches at Everton and Manchester City this week. Arsenal coped pretty well without Héctor Bellerín, who came back to excellent effect, but have lost the influential Shkodran Mustafi. Making a new central defensive partnership work will be vital. Amy Lawrence
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