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Samir Nasri
Super Samir: Arsenal's French midfielder Nasri is confident his two goals in the win over United will kickstart the Gunners' season

Nasri says Wenger's Foreign Legion will get better

James Olley
10.11.08

Samir Nasri today insisted the best is yet to come from Arsenal's young side after their 2-1 win over Manchester United.

The Gunners produced a resolute and determined performance to see off the European champions at Emirates Stadium despite missing a host of first-team regulars through injury and suspension.

Nasri scored twice as Arsene Wenger's team banished the memory of a disappointing week punctuated with no wins in three games.

And the 21-year-old firmly believes the Premier League title is within reach after the Gunners passed a huge test of their character.

He said: "Maybe we don't have the experience of Liverpool, United or Chelsea but we showed how mature we have become after last season and after the last few weeks.

"We showed we have a quality, technically, to win games like this one. Saturday was the greatest game of my career so far because of the rivalry between the two clubs and the performance. It is important to keep it going now. Mentally, we made a point by beating United. We know that the title could be achieved by the games against the big four and on Saturday we showed we can do it.

"With all the players coming back from injury, we are going to get better and better.

"We are back in it but we always thought we were in it anyway even before that game. We know our qualities, our strengths. We know what we can do and we can definitely achieve the title this season."

Six French players, including Nasri, started for Arsenal and that contingent have helped the man labelled 'the new Zidane' settle in England following his £15.8million summer move from Marseille.

He said: "It feels like a French team, the manager is French. We have got African players who speak French. There is a lot of French talking everywhere. In France we consider Arsenal to be the 21st team of Ligue 1.

"I think Wenger is one of the best in the world and it is a great honour for me to play for him."

Alongside Nasri in midfield, Cesc Fabregas enjoyed a quietly efficient afternoon and the Spaniard dismissed the recent criticism of the Gunners following defeat at Stoke and draws against Fenerbahce and Tottenham.

"In football there is always going to be talking about your performances," said the 21-year-old.

"We didn't win the last few games so we knew there was going to be some talk about Arsenal not being capable of winning anything.

"But we are professionals and we don't have to be affected by that sort of thing. We showed on Saturday we are a good team. We are not worse or better than last week, we just have to keep going."

Reader views (4)

 Add your view

If Wenger grabs 1 or 2 more players in January i think this will be a very positive move for the team and give us that added strength we need. My choice would be Veloso and Afellay. Veloso to back up Cesc, Diaby and Denilson and Afellay to replace Rosicky. For this season we have Gallas, Silvestre, Toure, Djourou and Song in defense, plus Senderos on loan. Adeyabaor, RVP, Bentdner, Vela & Eduardo for strikers. With he likes of Walcott, Nasri, Ramsey, Eboue and Wilshere all there to i think ity could be a good season for the Gunners in some shape or form.

- Paul Newman, Milton keynes

Great result & an excellent performance, especially from Samir Nasri. Hopefully, we will now go on a run & challenge the top two.

- Rob Gooner, North London

Great game on saturday,Nasri scored two great goals the second one was a screamer.Wenger has shown he is a great manager. Despite all the stick after Arsenals poor start,his tactics and team selection were spot on.With the way the season is panning out Arsenal are still in with an outside chance,and have proven that on their day they are capable of dispatching any team in the premiership. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

- Jim Ex Pat,N1, thailand

Not all games against the big 4 (should be the other big three !) will be won. Besides, every game counts 3 points, even against Stoke and Hull.

- Aziz, KL, Malaysia


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