ARSÈNE Wenger described Sebastian Larsson as the best free-kick taker in the Premier League after the Swede gave his old boss another nervous afternoon yesterday.
The Sunderland winger scored his second set-piece goal of the season, and his curling effort in the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal was every bit as good as his free-kick against Stoke City.
Gunners skipper Robin van Persie responded with a brilliant free-kick of his own to propel Arsenal to a fifth consecutive home win of a difficult campaign, but it is the Swede Wenger regards as the country’s best exponent.
“I think Larsson is a top, top . . . maybe the best in the league (as a) free-taker,” says the Frenchman, who brought him to England as a teenager.
The winger was troubled by fatigue after helping his country qualify for Euro 2012 with two goalscoring performances in the last international break. Steve Bruce took him from Arsenal to Birmingham City, then to Sunderland this summer.
Wenger’s praise was not restricted to Larsson as the visitors made his side work hard for a win which had initially seemed as if it might prove a formality.
“I’ve seen a few games over the weekend and Sunderland of all the teams I’ve seen away from home, they were 100% committed,” he enthused. “They played with six midfielders and four defenders and they did fight for every inch on the pitch.
“I didn’t see many teams doing that on Saturday so I believe Sunderland deserve a lot of credit. They made life difficult for us.”
Yet to win away from home in this season’s Premier League, Wenger is under pressure as Arsenal manager, and the tension at Ashburton Grove was obvious yesterday. His players were booed off at half-time and the fans’ displeasure was growing until van Persie settled their nerves.
“We have now won five games on the trot at home,” said the long-serving manager. “You feel the attitude, the spirit of the team is great, they want to improve. At half-time I had a good response so the motivation is there, the quality is there, so we can slowly get there.”
STUART RAYNER
