• Premier League

Arsenal happy once again - Wenger

ESPNsoccernet staff
October 19, 2011
Arsene Wenger has endured a difficult few months © PA Photos
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Arsene Wenger insists he is once again in charge of a happy, united Arsenal dressing room after Thomas Vermaelen committed his future to the club.

Wenger recently revealed the extent of his troubles over the past summer, suggesting "half the dressing room wanted to leave" following the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. However, the Frenchman is hoping Vermaelen's signature will convince captain Robin van Persie to stay on as the club looks to leave a testing start to the current campaign behind them.

"What is important is that in our environment it gives a different message," Wenger told Arsenal Player.

"When you listen to people it looks like an exodus with everybody leaving the club but we are a happy club. We did not have the start of the season that we wanted but the atmosphere inside the club is very solid, very united and very positive.

"We want to turn the results round and the fact that some players extend their contract at the moment is a positive sign for us. We are unified and that is down to our mental strengths."

Wenger, who travelled to Marseille without the injured Kieran Gibbs (stomach muscle), is hoping Wednesday's Champions League match can continue the positive feeling.

While the Premier League has delivered a handful of bitter pills already, in defeats to Liverpool, Blackburn and neighbours Tottenham - not to mention the 8-2 hammering by rivals Manchester United - European competition has so far proved a welcome relief.

The Gunners won both legs of a tough play-off with Udinese, before drawing at Borussia Dortmund and seeing off Olympiacos 2-1 at home. Marseille have won both of their Group F games to date, but Wenger is encouraged by how his side have approached the Champions League.

"We play with a bit more freedom away from home in Europe and there is a bit less pressure," he said upon his arrival in Marseille. "But in Udinese we also played with massive pressure because that was the game of the season for us. Not to win that game would have been a disaster.

"You can see since then that it was a good game [to win] because Udinese are top of the league in Italy and at the time I could feel they were a very good side."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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