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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised his team's discipline following their impressive 2-0 victory away at the reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.
“We were disciplined, well-organised and very quick to come out at the start. We kept good control of the game, and could have even done better on the counter attack.
“We played high up in their half, and very deep in our half. It worked because we knew we wanted to make space very tight in our third, especially in front of the box where (David) Silva is so influential. We did it well.”
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Ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, making his first appearance as a pundit for Sky Sports, was also quick to commend his former club for their change in approach to such a fixture.
“Usually Arsenal win a game by passing the ball, but today they defended well as a unit and they were brilliant.
“People mention (Alexis) Sanchez, but when (Santi) Cazorla is playing in the middle, you can see what he can do. He’s the man who makes the team click.”
The Spanish midfielder, who opened the goalscoring from the penalty spot and was voted Man of the Match, admitted that "today the team had a good spirit.”
Meanwhile, Cazorla's team-mate, Aaron Ramsey, also spoke of a more disciplined Arsenal performance.
“In the past we’ve been too open, and we wanted to put things right. We defended as a team today.”
Such a methodical and defensive display was also remarked upon by another pundit, Graeme Souness.
“I didn’t think Arsenal were capable of playing like that. I always thought they were too easy to play against, and today they were the exact opposite. The word was discipline."
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