Emirates Cup 2014: Arsenal 5 1 Benfica, Press Conference Update.

Arsenal made a stunning start to their Emirates Cup campaign by hammering Benfica 5-1 on Saturday. There was something that amused everyone and it was not the amount of goals we scored but the player who got majority of those goals. He is a player who since joining Arsenal on a free transfer last year has not hit the back of the net. Yesterday the jinx was broken as he scored four for the Gunners, making him the only Arsenal player to have done that after Andrey Arshavin at Anfield in 2009.

Sanogo put Arsenal ahead midway through the first half with a neat finish from close range, before Joel Campbell added another, his first goal in Arsenal colours. The heavenly angels were probably behind Sanogo as he continued with his goal feast. As if he was prepared to bag all the goals he failed to score last season, he added two more just few minutes before half time.




The second half started and before the visitors could launch their halftime plan, the 21-year old had already sent another in from a rebound created by Aaron Ramsey’s saved shot. Hmm!!! What a day it was for the youngster. Maybe yesterday’s breakthrough will give him the needed confidence in front of goal.

Yes, I am happy for him just as many fans are but let me make it known that I am not getting carried away yet. Sanogo still needs to prove his quality in a series of competitive games by repeating what he did yesterday before I can adjudge him a striker to rely on. I do not mean he should score four in every match he features in but at least he should keep scoring consistently.

The Portuguese side got a consolation goal, courtesy Nicolas Gaitan.

After the match, Arsene Wenger faced the press and during the media chat he commented on the game, paying close attention to Sanogo’s potentials, Joel’s future, new players’ form, transfers.

on Sanogo's four goals…
That's football. It always surprises you.

on whether the win is a sign of things to come…
I think it's very difficult to draw any conclusions like that. Benfica might be in a different level of preparation. We are not completely ready, what is important is that during important spells of the game we played the way we wanted to play football - that is the most positive thing. Our game is based on movement, technical skill and togetherness in the final third so overall that's the positive side of our game today.

on Sanogo and Cambpell's potential…
A headache is when they don't play well. We have some decisions to make when everybody plays well, that's true. But when everybody plays well that's what we want. They need to play of course but they need to play here. Sanogo came last year on a free and we worked very hard for six months with him and from January onwards he was slowly getting better. Now that we have worked very hard with him, we want him to stay here.

on Campbell…
Campbell has done very well. I like the way he plays, he's good on the ball, creative and collectively as well he has a good balance between individual skill and collective attitude - that's not easy to find.

on whether there has been any offers for Campbell…
No. There is no reason to let him go.

on whether he is available for a loan deal…
No. I want to keep him.

on Alexis...
He is not fit yet, but he has shown through some runs he will be very dangerous. He can play on the flanks and through the middle. [On Sunday] I will certainly play him on the flank for 45 minutes. He is not fit yet, but in one week he should be much better.

on Sanogo's self-belief...
Sanogo was injured for basically two years before he came to us. If you look at his goal scoring record before he got injured, it is quite frightening. For a while when he came back last season, he could not score. You could see when he scored the first goal today, suddenly they came raining. I especially liked the third goal he scored, it was really the goal of a striker of quality. He has a big future here, or course, he is 21. He has something of Adebayor. He is strong, a strong body, similar strengths [to Adebayor], but as well technical skill.

on Chambers...
I thought he played very well, was intelligent, good decision-making and calm on the ball, good in the air. He is 19 years old, and what he did is very promising. I told you we will have a core of English players, you have to trust me, I will get you slowly a good national team!

on the injuries...
Diaby was not in the squad, he is just going out to practice, but is not injured. Zelalem has no problem, I could just put 22 on the list.

on having too many players...
Yes, but you want me always to buy more. Where do I put them all?

on whether he has made an offer for Sami Khedira…
No.

on enquiring for Khedira...
What is enquire for you?

on Khedira's availablity...
I don’t know. If I read the newspapers, he is available.

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