Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has called on his side to put in the kind of Premier League winning performance that they displayed in to 3-0 inhalation of Manchester United when they head for Watford today for their first game back after the international break.
Wenger has told his team that they need to play the same type of game at Vicarage Road this afternoon as they did at the Emirates against Manchester United when the fired three goals past the Red Devils in the first 20 minutes of the match or else all the hard work they have done will soon be forgotten should they fail to convincingly beat the Hornets.
“It can increase the belief and the hunger of the team (to win convincingly). On the other hand you have to show that you can come in to every game with that focus,” said Wenger, who is hoping that star player Alexis Sanchez is fit to play following a hip injury he picked up while on international duty with Chile.
“The level of champions and people who want to fight at the top is urgency – and urgency is something that keeps you alert, so we know what will be expected of us.
“We have to be conscious that it will be a different game at Watford, but the level of urgency is a big part of success and that is what we work on.”
The Frenchman admits that they have not had long to get back into the run of things coming into the match after the international break, with many players still on a high following the victory against United.
“It was difficult, we separated on a positive vibe. After, the task is to reconnect quickly because everybody goes to their national teams and has different worries,” said Wenger.
“The target now is to refocus on what we want to achieve.
“Watford are a very difficult team to play against, so we have to focus to get a positive result on Saturday.”
The win over United moved Arsenal into second place in the league, just two points behind leaders Manchester City, and despite Chelsea being ten points adrift, Wenger has not written them off just yet.
“At the moment the top-eight can mathematically compete,” said Wenger.
“(Realistically), I would say five or six teams (can win the title).”
“(Chelsea) have some ground to make up. Of course when you have many teams in front of you it is difficult to catch up, but they have the quality.”
