We are always hearing a lot about character in the football world, but too often in the past it has been the lack of character in the Arsenal team that has been the subject of discussion for the football media. Last season, for instance, Arsene Wenger kept insisting that his players had the right character but there was not a lot of evidence to back him up as we slipped from top spot at Christmas to hand Leicester City the title.
It is still very early days in the new season but there are signs that this year might be different. Even though Arsenal have not been at our fluent best, we have shown signs of that mental strength we are always hearing about champions needing. And the old adage of grinding out results even when you are not playing well has certainly been true of the Gunners so far.
That ability to fight back or the resilience to stop another team fighting back is definitely helping with the confidence levels in the dressing room, as Francis Coquelin reveals in a Sky Sports report. With that confidence, as long as it continues to build, will come a real belief in the players that this might just be our year.
Coquelin said, “It was a good three points. It was a difficult game.
“Obviously the red card made it a bit easier for us, but it was a tough match so it was really pleasing to get the win.
“It could have been nervy, but I think in the last few weeks we have shown our character.
“In the last two games we were behind and came back into it. Today we showed that, even when a team comes back at us, we have the character to finish it off.
“So that’s good for the future and now we can concentrate on the next games coming up.”