Post by Salem6 on Nov 9, 2003 9:40:43 GMT
By Mike Collett
LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Tottenham Hotspur could feel hard done by after his side's 2-1 victory in the north London derby at Highbury.
Freddie Ljungberg scored Arsenal's fortunate second-half winner on Saturday with a shot that looped wickedly off THFC defender Stephen Carr's foot and into the net.
"We had a lucky deflection on the winner," said a relieved Wenger after watching his strangely out-of-sorts side maintain their unbeaten league record and go four points clear at the top of the table.
"I think Tottenham can feel hard done by. We did score a lucky goal, but I think that was the consequence of all our determination."
Tottenham, seeking their first win at Highbury since 1993, took the lead after five minutes through Darren Anderton but were beaten by Robert Pires's 69th-minute strike, after Thierry Henry appeared to break free in an offside position, and Ljungberg's 78th-minute winner.
Apart from that, THFC goalkeeper Kasey Keller hardly had a shot to save in the second half.
"With an hour to go I was very concerned. We had the possession but they had the chances, especially in the first half with two one-on-ones with our goalkeeper," Wenger said.
"But my team kept going, we have great mental strength and great resources and in the end we got what we wanted. Some of the players were very tired after the Champions League game with Kiev on Wednesday, but in the end we got the result."
There was another scare for Arsenal in the first half when Henry took a knock in the throat in a tussle with Carr and appeared to be in great distress, but Wenger said he did not swallow his tongue.
"I was more concerned when he did a somersault over their goalkeeper after that and I was relieved he was alright," added the Arsenal manager.
Tottenham's caretaker manager David Pleat said: "That defeat is very hard to take. We defended very well and had two great chances to go 3-0 up before halftime.
"We were not lightweight today we traded punches so to speak with the best team in the league."
LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Tottenham Hotspur could feel hard done by after his side's 2-1 victory in the north London derby at Highbury.
Freddie Ljungberg scored Arsenal's fortunate second-half winner on Saturday with a shot that looped wickedly off THFC defender Stephen Carr's foot and into the net.
"We had a lucky deflection on the winner," said a relieved Wenger after watching his strangely out-of-sorts side maintain their unbeaten league record and go four points clear at the top of the table.
"I think Tottenham can feel hard done by. We did score a lucky goal, but I think that was the consequence of all our determination."
Tottenham, seeking their first win at Highbury since 1993, took the lead after five minutes through Darren Anderton but were beaten by Robert Pires's 69th-minute strike, after Thierry Henry appeared to break free in an offside position, and Ljungberg's 78th-minute winner.
Apart from that, THFC goalkeeper Kasey Keller hardly had a shot to save in the second half.
"With an hour to go I was very concerned. We had the possession but they had the chances, especially in the first half with two one-on-ones with our goalkeeper," Wenger said.
"But my team kept going, we have great mental strength and great resources and in the end we got what we wanted. Some of the players were very tired after the Champions League game with Kiev on Wednesday, but in the end we got the result."
There was another scare for Arsenal in the first half when Henry took a knock in the throat in a tussle with Carr and appeared to be in great distress, but Wenger said he did not swallow his tongue.
"I was more concerned when he did a somersault over their goalkeeper after that and I was relieved he was alright," added the Arsenal manager.
Tottenham's caretaker manager David Pleat said: "That defeat is very hard to take. We defended very well and had two great chances to go 3-0 up before halftime.
"We were not lightweight today we traded punches so to speak with the best team in the league."
