Arsène Wenger says the 2-0 win at Manchester City in January was his side’s defining moment of the season.
The Gunners had struggled against their top-four rivals in previous campaigns, but secured a landmark result after goals from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud.
Arsenal went on to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup, and later draw there in the league, and Wenger believes it was partly down to their display at the Etihad.
“I felt that a hurdle we had to overcome was to win against a big team away from home, so to win at Manchester City was an important moment,” he told the Final Whistle on Facebook.
“You could see the consequences afterwards. We won in the FA Cup at Manchester United in a very convincing performance, we drew 1-1 there too and that was a very important point for us to finish in the top three. Maybe the start of the strengthening of the team’s feeling was at Man City.
“As long as you don’t overcome a hurdle, people say, ‘Look they lost again there’. Since we have done that we have not lost a big game away from home.
“I believe the strength and cohesion of the team, and of the club, is always decided by the away results. On that front you prepare the basis of the season after and we can take a lot of strength from that.”
Arsenal secured a 4-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday’s final game of the season, with Theo Walcott scoring a 32-minute hat-trick and Jack Wilshere adding another as the Gunners ran riot in a dominant first-half performance at Emirates Stadium.
Culled From Arsenal.Com