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Wenger confident of upturn in Arsenal results

September 29, 2014 08:49 IST

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal celebrates with team-mates after scoring their first goal. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Arsene Wenger is confident Arsenal can rekindle the art of winning after a series of frustrating Premier League draws but their quest may be hindered by a "worrying" injury crisis.

The Gunners are unbeaten in six Premier League games this season but have won just twice, dropping a host of points from winning positions to leave them six behind leaders Chelsea.

Against north London rivals Tottenham on Saturday, Arsenal dominated possession but failed to break down the visitors' stubborn and resolute rearguard.

Once again, they had to settle for a point after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cancelled out Nacer Chadli's opening goal.

"The positive is that we are unbeaten, but the negative is that we have missed four points from the quality of the games we have played," Wenger told a news conference.

"We have to keep that unbeaten record and I think at some stage we will win the games instead of drawing.

"Against Tottenham, we would have won had we not conceded the first goal."

Deepening injury crisis

Jack Wilshere of Arsenal grimaces as he receives treatment for an injury on the field. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Wenger, though, must now contend with a deepening injury crisis.

Influential midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta limped off on Saturday and have been ruled out of next Sunday’s trip to Chelsea and the crucial midweek Champions League clash with Galatasaray.

England midfielder Jack Wilshere is also a doubt after he injured his ankle in a challenge with Danny Rose.

"I don't know how long they will be out but they will be out next week. I think Ramsey is a hamstring (injury), and Arteta is a calf. Wilshere is an ankle," Wenger added.

"Suddenly, we are short because we lost three players today and let's not forget we had already two out on long-term [forward Olivier Giroud and defender Mathieu Debuchy] plus [Theo] Walcott, that's six. [Abou] Diaby is not ready, seven. It starts to become a worry."

Sent off Rooney says he is more mature now

Wayne Rooney of Manchester United receives a straight red card by referee Lee Mason. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney claimed to be "a lot more mature on the pitch" in an interview conducted for the Sunday Times a few days before he was sent off against West Ham United on Saturday.

Rooney left his team a man short for the last half an hour and they only just held on to a 2-1 lead, with the visitors having a goal disallowed for offside in the last minute.

He caught West Ham midfielder Stewart Downing high on the thigh with a professional foul to prevent a breakaway, and referee Lee Mason immediately produced a straight red card.

"I'm a lot more mature on the pitch. Off the pitch too," Rooney was quoted as saying in the interview published on Sunday.

"I read the game a lot better and there's certain situations where you can use your experience."

‘I now know exactly what I want to do on the pitch’

Wayne Rooney. Photograph: Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Rooney will now miss United's next three Premier League games, against his former club Everton, West Bromwich Albion and league leaders Chelsea.

In a wide-ranging interview he also told the Sunday Times that the next two or three years could be his best because "I now know exactly what I want to do on the pitch and I'm fit and ready to do it."

He added that he hopes to spend the rest of his career at Old Trafford and is expecting to play as a striker for another two or three seasons before switching to a deeper role, although "it's down to the manager (Louis van Gaal) and I'll accept it".

Van Gaal, he said, is "incredible" in his attention to detail and Rooney claims to have benefited from the Dutchman's habit of having every training session filmed and getting the players to watch the recording.

He named Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Paul Scholes as his best -ever United team mate and said his toughest opponent is Chelsea's John Terry - whom he will not now be able to play against in four weeks' time.