Ввиду дисквалификации Арсена Венгера, его место на тренерском мостике в матче против "Боруссии" занимал Пэт Райс. Ему и дали слово на послематчевой пресс-конференции.

Почему "Арсеналу" не повезло удержать победный счет...

Мы упорно сражались, и каждый знал, что игра предстоит чрезвычайно трудной. Чтобы хорошо защищаться, нужны мастера высочайшего класса, и прошлым вечером нашим ребятам это удалось. Не думаю, что любой способен приехать в Дортмунд, вести в счете и почти удержать победу.

О голе Робина ван Перси...

Нет ничего удивительного в том, какой по красоте гол забил Робин.  То был потрясающий забег его, и какую же прекрасную передачу ему отправил Тео. Непривычно, что Робин забил именно правой, но это еще раз подтверждает тот факт, что у ван Перси рабочая не только левая нога.

О лидерских качествах капитана...

Робин несомненный капитан "Арсенала", и мы уверены в нем как на поле, так и за его пределами, особенно в раздевалке. Он спросил меня лишь об одной-двух вещах, где мы могли действовать лучше, и я ему рассказал.

О давление "Дортмунда" в первом тайме...

Как я говорил ранее, хорошо защищаться - огромный труд, и справиться с этим могут только высококлассные футболисты, нам это вчера удалось. Не забывайте, насколько прекрасная команда "Дортмунд", это вне всяких  сомнений. Хотели ли мы увезти в Лондон три очка? Конечно, хотели, победа была так близко. Но с нами случилось то же, что и в одном из матчей против "Тоттэнхэма", когда юноша Дэни Роус забил невероятный гол с 35 ярдов. Вчера вечером история повторилась. Думаю, он может стараться повторить свой удар 25, 30, 40 раз, но все будет отправлять мяч выше перекладины или во вратаря. Тот гол был великолепен.

Похож ли стиль игры "Дортмунда" на наш...

Да, очень сильно похож. Они прекрасно играли. Но я повторюсь, наши парни сдерживали их натиск очень хорошо. Как мы сами видели, игра была чрезвычайно сложной. Жервиньо мог решить исход матча, но ему не повезло. Так что одно очко в такой встрече, тоже неплохой результат.

О непривычном отсутствии на своем месте Венгера...

Прежде всего, было очень странно не видеть рядом с собой тренера, обычно он шепчет мне на ухо: "Почему тут он поступил так?" или "Почему тут он не сделал этого?". Понравилось ли мне без него? Нет, однозначно нет. Я никогда не ставил себе целью стать главным тренером футбольного клуба. Было странно без Арсена и все были напряжены.

О двух положительных результатах после неудачного начала сезона...

Да, это на самом деле так. Лично я ощущаю, что наш сезон начался в прошлую субботу, с игры против "Суонси". В первых матчах все еще было не известно, какие игроки останутся, а какие покинут клуб. Футболисты, которые сейчас находятся в нашем распоряжении, высокого уровня, несмотря на то что говорят другие. Я ни секунды не сомневаюсь,что в предстоящих встречах они это еще докажут.

О Пере Мертезакере...

На мой взгляд, Пер - потрясающий игрок. Количество сыгранных им матчей за сборную говорит само за себя, он не может быть слабым футболистом. Это невозможно. И Пер с первых дней в "Арсенале" демонстрирует высокий уровень футбола. Как и Лоран Косьелни, прошлой ночью он был неподражаем, и только он привыкнет к Премьер-лиге, его игра будет становиться все лучше и лучше.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was in scintillating form for Arsenal's reserves in a 3-3 draw with Bolton's second string last night.
The England Under-21 international put in another eye-catching display down the right flank for Neil Banfield's side, alongside fellow first-team squad members Carl Jenkinson, Ignasi Miquel, Ryo and Francis Coquelin.
Sanchez Watt and Oguzhan Ozyakup had twice given Arsenal the lead before they were pegged back both times by an experienced Bolton side with ex-Liverpool striker David N'gog claiming two.
But substitute Luke Freeman grabbed the 85th minute equaliser after Jenkinson's powerful run and cross to hand the Gunners a hard-earned draw.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who made his Arsenal debut in the 8-2 mauling at Old Trafford, could start in the Gunners' Carling Cup third round tie against Shrewsbury next week.

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny says the side can draw plenty of confidence from their defensive display against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

The Gunners conceded two minutes from time to draw 1-1 in Germany to earn a point in their first group stage game of this year's competition.

Robin van Persie had given Arsene Wenger's side the lead just before half-time and they were minutes away from winning the game.

After keeping a clean sheet against Swansea on Saturday, Arsenal have now conceded one goal in the two games since their 8-2 hammering from Manchester United.

Koscielny partnered Per Mertesacker in the heart of defence and had to cope with a barrage of 17 shots on goal from the home side.
Difficult

Koscielny told the club's official website: "It was a hard game, Dortmund played very well. We defended well, but to concede a goal two minutes before the end was difficult for us.

"We didn't lose, which was good. We have a game at home, and it is important to win that.

"I think we defended very well - all the team defends together."

Midfielder Alex Song returned to the squad after missing the last three games through suspension and Koscielny was pleased to see him back.

He said: "It's very important to have Alex [Song] near the centre-backs, because he stops the opportunities coming to the other team. It's good for us.

"We are in a good place now and we want to go and win at Blackburn."

I was told to avoid this article, but life is better if you face the truth sooner rather than later. Please do note, what I write is my opinion and this is what I have been feeling at Arsenal upto now.

Depression is something which kills you. And I mean actually. It kills you slowly, making you suffer second by second till you hear the first piece of good news. That to a ‘little’ of such news won’t help you and its only when you start hearing a flow of such good news that you slowly start to recover.

I will not harp about Wenger or Arsenal anymore as I feel that enough has been said. Plus, after the Swansea game there is nothing to talk about other than the performance, that is if you can call it that.

Today it’s something different. But something equally important.

When I hear the full time whistle after Arsenal ‘lose’ a game, personally this is what I feel…

It’s as if for 1 second my life has been put on slow motion, and then I snap back to my normal state. Or, if it is my normal state ? After a loss be it to United, City or even a team like West Brom I get a hollow sensation inside of me. Partly because I am angry as to why my team did not perform and also due to the fact that I was let down. I expected something and I got something less.

I cannot tell you, or rather express to you how much I love football. I love watching football and I love playing football, but to be honest I am scared. And why not ? Can you trust a team which concedes 4 goals in 22 minutes twice in 2 seasons. A team which loses to Spurs after leading 2-0, and draws against them after after leading 0-2. A team which promises so much and delivers so little for 3 consecutive years.

Yeah, I am shit scared. Scared that I will have another depression spell this weekend. Scared that after I watch the match I may be let down, and that I may be frustrated.

And yet it’s an addiction….

I know what I have signed up for, and I know that there is a possibility that I may not get what I want, but thats the risk which I take.

I look forward to every weekend, knowing very well that things may turn out very badly for me. Knowing full well that I may end up depressed, and knowing full well that I may be ripped apart in the consecutive days. But I look forward to it.

Some people will never understand what I am trying to say, and for those people, from my heart “ I am sorry.” Sorry, because most of you have not yet got to that stage of supporting and watching football. It’s not true that you have to visit Arsenal to be classified as a true supporter of the club, and it’s not true that you have to buy the merchandise to support the club. Support for a club, comes from within, when you can make yourself one with the club. You feel what the club feels, and you ‘get pricked’ when the club gets pricked. It’s just as if you have a brother, and if he is in pain, you feel it. The scenario is similar.

At the end of the day, one may say that it is just a game, and you are over-reacting. Honestly I wish it was, I wish I actually was over-reacting so that I can rectify it. But I can’t. You can never rectify what you feel is right, NEVER.

I know there are certain Gooners who have supported Arsenal longer than I have, and I respect them. You need balls to go through ‘this shit’ after your team loses (especially if it is a top team), and to do that every week is laudable.

I know I will look forward to the next Arsenal game vs Blackburn. I know it, and I can’t wait for it. Saturday early kick-off is the next thing I am looking forward to in my life(in sports). I want it now, I want it immediately, but I have to wait. Wait for 6 days and till it’s time to switch on my television and watch the players come out of the tunnel, knowing fully well that at the end of the 90 mins I may be depressed and frustrated. But thats the risk I take…

Sadly, this was not the scenario years ago…..

..Before when I watched Arsenal I knew something would happen. I knew that even if I did not watch there would be 3 points added to the league table. We were that good. We were actually that good. Teams actually had to think “How will we beat them ?” But look at us now. And by now I mean in the last 2 seasons. West Brom beat us, we throw away leads, Spurs beat us and the list goes on….

I went to the Emirates this summer, and it was this which caught my eye :



That is what the players believed, and that is what a team of champions should believe. We saw the invincible era of 2003-2004, and we saw what a team of champions looked like unbeaten in an entire season. That was what Arsenal is capable of, and that is what supporters always demand. We want that Arsenal, we want our Arsenal back.

I will not judge this Arsenal squad, and I will definetely give them more time to show me what they are capable of. But I am not too optimistic about them because major reasons to why a team become champions is the manager, and I have little faith in him.

What will make me happy as an Arsenal fan ? Will it be 3 points, a hat-trick by Theo or positive news on the injury front.

Honestly, I just want 3 well deserved points. I want to sit back and watch a team play and make me happy. For me the first part to getting better is playing from your heart. Yes, the 3 points against Swansea was all well and good, but 5 games like that is of lesser value than 1 game played from your heart and won. Not only does the win bring back confidence but also morale.

People say I am negative about Arsenal. NO, I am not, I am as optimistic about them as the they are, it’s just that since it’s a new squad I want them to start their journey through a long season positively and with high morale. I know they are good, but it’s not about me or anyone else knowing Its about them, those 11 playing knowing that they are part of a fantastic football club. Knowing that they have the potential to be champions.