performance as the Premier League
leaders survived Mikel Arteta's red card to
clinch a gritty 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.
Arteta was dismissed with 25 minutes
left to play after the Spanish midfielder
had opened the scoring from the penalty
spot early in the second half at Selhurst
Park on Saturday.
But two superb saves from Wojciech
Szczesny kept Arsenal ahead and the
visitors, who struggled to play with their
trademark fluency in possession, eventually
finished off spirited Palace when Olivier
Giroud's fifth Premier League goal of the
season sealed the points in the closing
minutes.
And after suffering their first defeat
since the opening day of the season
against Borussia Dortmund in midweek,
Wenger was impressed with the way his
players returned to winning ways with a
run of difficult games to come including
league fixtures against Liverpool and
Manchester United.
"It was not a game of brilliance but
efficiency and patience," he said.
"Maybe were not at our sharpest but we
were serious and determined. After the
disappointment of Tuesday night, it was
important to respond with a win straight
away.
"We dealt well with the situation. We were
mature, organised and didn't become nervous. Szczesny made
two great saves at an important moment of the game and
eventually we got the second goal."
In a week that saw manager Ian Holloway leave second bottom
Palace after a fifth successive defeat, the hosts could consider
themselves unlucky not to have earned something from this
game.
Yet they did have a stroke of luck when Arteta was harshly
given his marching orders for bringing down former Gunners
team-mate Marouane Chamakh wide on the right flank.
However, with a League Cup tie against Chelsea to come this
week, Wenger revealed he does not intend to appeal that decision.
A groin injury that forced the returning Mathieu Flamini off in the
seventh minute could leave Arsenal down to the bare bones in
midfield for the meeting with Jose Mourinho's side.
Yet in line with his usual policy, Wenger will select a largely reserve
team for that match.
Despite his injury worries, though, the French manager remains
confident that his squad can cope with the real challenges yet to
come.
"The only thing we can do is keep winning our games but we have
some difficult games coming up and that will be a big test,"
Wenger said.
"We are ambitious and we want to do as well as we can. It's a
good feeling (to be top), but without any massive significance
"We had an opportunity to put pressure on all the rivals and we
did that."
Holloway's former assistant Keith Millen took charge of Palace,
but he couldn't stop the south Londoners suffering their eighth
defeat in nine league matches since being promoted via the
Championship play-offs last season.
Former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis remains the favourite to
take over and Millen believes their performance against Arsenal
showed that they still have a chance of turning things around.
"I think it's an attractive job. We're in a great financial position
but if you look at the players today, whoever takes over will see
there is something to build on," he said.
"Whether we can get enough points to stay up we'll have to see,
but I think it's important we get someone in as quickly as possible.
"We need someone from the outside to come in and have a look to
see where we're going wrong.
