Wenger: 'I prefer to lead from the front'

Last updated : 01 January 2008 By Chris Parry

"Sides who play 4-5-1 here and mark us very tight, they push up very high. Therefore the defenders have to play on the half-way line and with the players we have, that enables us to go behind the central defenders. That gives us naturally a different option. We always have alternative options.

"We have worked on it, because we know Adebayor has so much pace and power and Eduardo is shrewd as well and a clinical finisher. It's a great option for us."

"We had a great start and after that we controlled the game. West Ham were dangerous on set-pieces in the first half, but in the second half we were in control without ever pushing to score more goals.

"We didn't want to concede and West Ham didn't really challenge us so we were quite comfortable."

"Overall this period has been absolutely great for us - we have had four difficult games, but we have come away with three wins and a draw, which is terrific. It's been fantastic."

"It is too early to go into mind games. I feel going into January we will rely on our performances. Manchester United will be a tough opponent but we have one thing, we have belief, and we have talent and we are ready to fight.

"This team is hungry. So that is good ingredients - but I don't count only Man United - I still feel Chelsea and Liverpool are there.

"I prefer to lead from the front, definitely. Because you then just rely on your results. If you are not at the front you have to hope the others don't perform. My New Year resolution is to give absolutely everything I have, every bit of energy, to make this club successful.

"It's a pleasure to work with the team, they give absolutely everything so I want to give everything to make this team successful."