Arsene Wenger is delighted with the quality in his Arsenal squad, as the Gunners sit in second place following a stunning second half of the season – spurred on by the return from injury of a number of key players.
READ MORE:
Arsenal transfer gossip
Five lessons learned over the Premier League weekend as Arsenal and Manchester United both win
Arsenal legend backs in-form keeper David Ospina to retain his place in Gunners starting eleven
Arsenal’s chances of securing Champions League for next season looked questionable earlier in the season with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton, as well as the usual top-four all closely battling it out for a spot in the elite European competition.
However, like rivals Manchester United, the Gunners have been on a superb run of form since the festive period – aided by the return of star striker Olivier Giroud and playmaker Mesut Ozil.
Wenger is revelling in the fact that his side sit second in the league, despite a typically long list of players having been in the recovery room for much of the season: Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Mathieu Debuchy, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are just returning from injury, while Laurent Koscileny, Giroud and Ozil were all out for four months earlier in the campaign.
The Frenchman believes that the number of absentees this season has actually helped Arsenal to better the balance in the whole squad – handing players such as Hector Bellerin and Francis Coquelin the chance to shine at the Emirates.
“We have a better balance in the team and some players have made it like Coquelin, who contributes to the balance of the team,” as quoted by the Daily Star.
“Hector Bellerin as well has come into the team. And big players like Koscielny, like Ozil, like Giroud have been out four months in the season – four months the three together!”
SEE ALSO:
Liverpool vs Newcastle United live streaming and Premier League preview