Wenger relieved to get opening day win
Arsene Wenger get to get off to winning start
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Saturday, 16, Aug 2008 07:57
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was a relieved man after his side held off a spirited West Brom to win 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
Debutant Samir Nasri scored after just four minutes as Arsenal started in their typically fast passing style of football. Arsenal fans would have expected their team dominate the rest of the game and score a few more goals.
But that wasn't to be the case as Arsenal's level of play dropped which allowed West Brom to get back in the game. And if it wasn't for a goal-line clearance from Johan Djourou, Arsenal might have dropped two points at home today.
"You have that old story that you feel you probably deserved to be punished in the end - but I am pleased we did not let in a goal," said Wenger.
"It's a first game of the season and we had a physical match on the Wednesday night and I was a little bit worried before that we would not be very sharp, but we started well and were in control and we just couldn't finish them off.
"When everybody is here, we can create more clear-cut chances because today the final ball was not good enough. But overall, it has been a good week for us."
Arsenal will be looking to make it six points from two games when they travel to Fulham next Saturday. And Wenger admitted that for a club like Arsenal "the important thing is that you are fighting for the title."