NOW WE'RE TALKING

But just as Wenger could breathe a sigh of relief that his team had, after three games without a win, found their form, hanging over him was the FA charge incurred for his flare-up with Pardew after West Ham's late winner last week.

Pardew has since apologised and, after a week of silence, Wenger has finally spoken on the issue. He said: "Alan Pardew apologised because he was conscious that I felt provoked in close to the top teams.

It is clear that this is not good enough. We need to improve.

"I'm not thinking about the title race or anything else. I am just thinking of the next game – which we need to win. We played quite well but then conceded a goal just before half-time, and then straight away again afterwards. After that it is very difficult against a quality team.

"We have played some good games this season, but not enough. Away from home we are conceding goals first and we do not seem able to come back. I do not want to talk about individual players. It is the team that counts, and we need to get better."

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger, whose team had not won in three games before yesterday, admitted that the result could be a key one for his team. He said: "Seasons can be decided by the quality of the response you make to defeats like the one we suffered at West Ham last week.

"I was delighted with our performance."

Wenger admitted he was sorry for his touchline bust-up with Hammers manager Alan Pardew a week ago, and said he would not be requesting a personal hearing to the disrepute charge he faces. "I regret my reaction," he said.