FIFA World Cup: Brazil held to 1-1 draw by Switzerland in Group E opener

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, - Brazil joined the host of big guns who have failed to fire in their opening World Cup game as lax defending from a corner allowed Switzerland to cancel out Philippe Coutinho's spectacular curling strike and grab a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

The five-times world champions took a deserved lead midway through the first half in the Group E game when Coutinho's irresistible long-distance shot cannoned in off the far post, but Tite's side, who had looked so impressive in the tournament build-up, failed to build on their advantage.

The highly organised Swiss hit back early in the second period from one of their few chances as Brazil's Casemiro and Miranda switched off and the unmarked Steven Zuber barely had to leave his feet to nod in Xherdan Shaqiri's whipped corner.

Brazil went all out in pursuit of a winner and came agonisingly close to finding it but had to settle for a point and joined fellow tournament favourites Germany, Spain and Argentina in failing to win their first game.

Neymar's flamboyant blond 'spaghetti' haircut certainly caught the eye although he only gave glimpses of the spectacular dribbles and plays he is renowned for and which led Paris St Germain to shell out 222 million euros for.

Instead, Brazil's second most expensive player, Coutinho, pulled Tite's side's strings, constantly finding right winger Willian and drifting striker Gabriel Jesus with sweeping passes although Switzerland managed to deal with the threat.

They foolishly offered him the chance to demonstrate his most spectacular quality, however, when a cross from Marcelo was cleared into the path of the Barcelona midfielder, who wrapped his right foot around the ball and delivered an irresistible finish to break the deadlock in the 20th minute.

The whirlwind finish delighted the Rostov Arena, where yellow-shirted Brazil fans vastly outnumbered the red of the Swiss, although Tite's side failed to build further momentum, as Neymar was frequently stopped in his tracks by tactical fouls from Vladimir Petkovic's side.

The PSG forward, who was making only his second start since a metatarsal injury ended his season in February, did not look as if he had fully recovered, as his coach had warned on the eve of the game by admitting his side's talisman was "not 100 percent".

Still, Brazil always looked in control until they ceded a corner and Zuber took full advantage of their collective lapse of concentration.

They made a far bigger effort than the Swiss to find a second goal and were not far from finding it.

Coutinho and Miranda each lashed wide from inside the area while Neymar and substitute Roberto Firmino were denied by Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer. (Reporting by Richard Martin, editing by Neil Robinson)

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Record-breaking Barca back on track after beating Valencia

BARCELONA - Barcelona responded to their shock Champions League elimination to AS Roma by beating Valencia 2-1 on Saturday in a subdued atmosphere at the Nou Camp, setting a Liga record run of 39 games unbeaten and taking them ever closer to another title.

Luis Suarez gave Barca the lead after a quarter of an hour by meeting a delicious outside-of-the-foot pass from former Liverpool team mate Philippe Coutinho, scoring with one touch from close range.

Club-record signing Coutinho then delivered an outswinging corner from which Samuel Umtiti headed in Barca's second in the 51st minute, shortly after Gerard Pique had saved Umtiti's blushes by clearing a shot from Valencia forward Santi Mina off the line following a slip by the France defender.

Captain Dani Parejo pulled a goal back for third-placed Valencia by squeezing an 87th-minute penalty under Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but the Catalans withstood an exciting final spell to move to within seven points of their 25th league title.

Ernesto Valverde's side lead nearest challengers Atletico Madrid by 14 points in the standings, with Atletico hosting Levante and fourth-placed Real visiting basement club Malaga on Sunday.

The Barca coach praised his players for putting the Roma defeat behind them but said their European exit had punctured their enthusiasm for the unbeaten record.

"This wasn’t a week to think about records, we don’t give it too much importance. It was more important that we picked ourselves up after a difficult week," Valverde told a news conference.

"It's normal that these players keep on breaking records. But it was a fundamental win in many ways. First of all, I am happy with the three points. We needed 10 points to win the league, now it’s seven."

With heavy rain falling in the city throughout the day, 30,000 seats at the 99,000-capacity Nou Camp were unoccupied and even when Suarez provided a slick finishing touch to Coutinho's wonderful pass, celebrations were muted.

Valencia had made a good start and winger Goncalo Guedes hammered an early shot at Ter Stegen, who made another impressive save to thwart the Portuguese later in the half after Gerard Pique had surrendered the ball.

The German goalkeeper also ran himself into trouble as he sent a pass straight at the feet of Valencia forward Rodrigo but redeemed himself by tipping the shot on to the crossbar and behind.

Lionel Messi was inactive for much of the first half but grew into the game in the second, narrowly volleying over the bar and fizzing a shot just wide after tearing through the Valencia defence.

"The atmosphere around the club this week has been a bit gloomy and we needed to put the brakes on that so I have to congratulate the players because it’s not been easy," added Valverde.

"The sensation is that we have failed, that we have disappointed the supporters, but we have to look forward and not lose sight of what we can still achieve this season."

(Reporting by Richard Martin, Editing by Neville Dalton and Clare Fallon)

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Liverpool halt Spurs run, Arsenal and United win

LONDON - Liverpool roared back into the mix for a top-four finish with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday that opened the door for Chelsea to strengthen their vice-like hold on the Premier League title race.

Two goals from Sadio Mane in a vibrant first half scuppered second-placed Tottenham's hopes of cutting Chelsea's lead to six points and the Blues will go 12 points clear with 13 matches left if they win at Burnley on Sunday.

While Chelsea look unstoppable, the real battle is below them where only two points separate Tottenham and sixth-placed Manchester United.

Arsenal put two Premier League defeats - and days of uncertainty about manager Arsene Wenger - behind them to beat Hull City 2-0 and move above Manchester City into third.

United stayed sixth after beating Watford 2-0 - a victory that meant they become the first club to reach 2,000 points in the Premier League since it began in 1992.

Fifth-placed Manchester City play Bournemouth on Monday when victory would leapfrog them into second.

At the other end of the table, the bottom three all lost with 20th-placed Sunderland thrashed 4-0 at home by Southampton, for whom new striker Manolo Gabbiadini scored twice, and 19th- placed Crystal Palace going down 1-0 at Stoke City.

Liverpool were without a league win in 2017 and had been knocked out of both domestic cups during a recent slump, but rediscovered their verve to outplay a lackluster Tottenham side whose nine-game uneaten league run came to shuddering halt.

Senegalese Mane, whose absence on African Nations Cup duty coincided with Liverpool's slump, scored in the 16th and 18th minutes and could have doubled his total.

Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp was delighted as his side moved into fourth place, a point behind the two north London clubs and ahead of Manchester City on goal difference.

"Today the pressure was on us but we dealt with it," Klopp said. "We had a really bad period. We are still around, not with Chelsea but with the rest."

Alexis Sanchez scored both goals for Arsenal at the Emirates, although his first in the 34th minute owed much to luck as the ball went into the via his hand.

"The referee apologized to us after halftime and said it was a handball," Hull defender Andrew Robertson said.

The Chilean's second also came via a goalline handball, this time from Hull's Sam Clucas in stoppage time, which led to a penalty and sending-off. Sanchez's spot-kick took his tally to 17 goals in 25 league games, including four against Hull.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United looked unrecognizable from the side who spluttered through the early months of the season and extended their unbeaten league run to 16 games.

Juan Mata put them ahead before Anthony Martial doubled their lead after the break.

"Sixteen games unbeaten is an amazing record," United manager Jose Mourinho said.

INSTANT RETURN

Southampton are getting an instant return on the 14 million pounds ($17.5 million) they paid Napoli for Italy striker Gabbiadini on transfer deadline day.

His brace against Sunderland, including a brilliant turn and shot, means he has now scored three in two games.

Sunderland and Palace remained rooted to the bottom on 19 points after Joe Allen's sixth league goal of the season for Stoke - his best-ever haul - was enough to see off Sam Allardyce's struggling Palace side.

Fifteenth-placed Middlesbrough earned a valuable 0-0 draw to move two points clear of third-bottom Hull. Champions Leicester City face a relegation battle at Swansea City on Sunday.

Mid-table West Bromwich Albion had Gareth McAuley's last-gasp equalizer to thank for a 2-2 draw at West Ham United.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

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PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool climb to second as Arsenal, Spurs misfire

LONDON -- An 81st-minute Gareth McAuley goal prevented Liverpool from provisionally going top in the Premier League as they defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1 on Saturday.

Needing a two-goal win to move above leaders Arsenal, Liverpool took a 2-0 lead through Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho, but McAuley's strike left them in second place on goal difference.

Arsenal had earlier been held to a 0-0 draw by Middlesbrough, while fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur played out a goalless stalemate at Bournemouth.

"I'm really pleased with the performance," Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports.

"It was unbelievably difficult against West Brom. You have to always concentrate. They are so dangerous at set-pieces.

"But I think it would have been kind of a joke if we hadn't won today. It was unbelievable, how we played."

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City can reclaim first place by avoiding defeat at home to Southampton on Sunday, when Jose Mourinho makes his return to Chelsea with Manchester United.

Klopp made one change to the Liverpool team held 0-0 by United last Monday, with the fit-again Adam Lallana returning to the starting XI at the expense of Daniel Sturridge.

Roberto Firmino took over from Sturridge up front and played a key role in Liverpool's neat 20th-minute opener, crossing for Mane to volley home after Coutinho's dummy had freed Emre Can.

Mane turned provider 15 minutes later after a sliced clearance by visiting goalkeeper Ben Foster, slipping in Coutinho, who cut inside two defenders and scored at the near post.

West Brom centre-back McAuley halved the deficit late on, volleying in from close range at a corner.

Arsenal, 6-0 winners over Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League in mid-week, were seeking an eighth successive win in all competitions.

But Middlesbrough came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half at the Emirates Stadium when Gaston Ramirez curled a 21st-minute free-kick against the post.

Arsenal dominated the second half, but had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for ensuring the visitors' counter-attacks came to nought.

"It is a game where you had a lot of possession, but there were tired legs and you are prone to counter-attacks," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who was celebrating his 67th birthday.

"You make it difficult for yourself. Seventy-five percent possession, but you could have lost the game. That is modern football."

- Shaqiri, Shaqiri -

Tottenham extended their unbeaten start to the season to nine games -- something they last achieved in 1990 -- but squandered an opportunity to go top in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.

Both teams hit the woodwork in the early stages, Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris diverting Charlie Daniels's shot onto the bar and Erik Lamela clipping the post from distance.

"We had control, but we didn't create enough chances to score," said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.

"I think we need to be pleased in the end because it's one point more, one clean sheet, but it's true for us to be contenders we should be winning the games like today."

Champions Leicester City did not need Jamie Vardy as they won 3-1 at home to Crystal Palace to climb to 12th place.

With Vardy starting on the bench after a groin problem, strikers Ahmed Musa and Shinji Okazaki struck either side of half-time at the King Power Stadium.

Christian Fuchs sealed victory in the 79th minute, the Austrian left-back netting from distance with a sensational strike to register his first Leicester goal.

Yohan Cabaye replied five minutes from time for Palace.

"That was our best performance so far this season," said Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri. "It was the shape and model of last season and we concentrated on doing our job."

Sixth-place Everton spurned a chance to make ground on the leading sides in a 2-1 defeat at Burnley, who took a 39th-minute lead when goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's blunder gifted Sam Vokes a tap-in.

Yannick Bolasie equalised just before the hour with his first Everton goal, but Scott Arfield struck at the death to condemn Ronald Koeman's men to a fourth league game without victory.

Xherdan Shaqiri scored two stunning goals -- the second a free-kick -- as Stoke City won 2-0 at Hull City to climb out of the relegation zone at their hosts' expense.

Sunderland remain rock-bottom after Winston Reid's goal deep into stoppage time earned misfiring West Ham United a 1-0 win at their London Stadium.

Swansea City stayed second from bottom after Bob Bradley's first home game as manager concluded in a 0-0 draw with Watford.

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Liverpool and Man Utd deliver poor 0-0 draw after the hype

One of the most eagerly-awaited clashes of the Premier League season turned into a major letdown as Liverpool and Manchester United nullified each other in a largely undistinguished goalless draw at Anfield on Monday.

After all the hype preceding the battle between English football's fiercest rivals, United's manager Jose Mourinho was left happier than his counterpart Juergen Klopp as the visitors doused Liverpool's acclaimed attacking pyrotechnics.

The home side, full of goals all season, proved desperately disappointing until finding some second-half drive and may have still felt they deserved the win as United goalkeeper David de Gea had to make fine saves from Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho.

Mourinho, the master of stifling Anfield dreams when at Chelsea, again found his tactical mastery rewarded but United, seventh in the table on 14 points, have still won just one of their last five league games while Liverpool stay fourth on 17, two behind leaders Manchester City and Arsenal.

The Portuguese sounded particularly satisfied as he suggested United's ability to keep a clean sheet against their hosts had shown "they (Liverpool) are not the last wonder of the world like you like to say they are".

Klopp, though, talked of "mixed feelings", admitting it had been a poor spectacle.

"I am not frustrated but I am not happy with the performance. No one will show this game in 10 or 20 years but we could have played better.

"We get a point. It doesn't feel like the best thing but it is what we got."

His usually whirlwind Liverpool were effectively subdued in the first half as Mourinho reverted to conservative type, bringing in Marouane Fellaini to partner Ander Herrera in a stifling central midfield combination.

Throwing men behind the ball and taking the voice out of the passionate home crowd, United controlled most of the play in the opening half-hour even if a 40-metre Zlatan Ibrahimovic free kick blasted into row Z was their lowest of highlights.

Liverpool, without the injured Georginio Wijnaldum and forced to leave Adam Lallana on the bench, never got going, with Daniel Sturridge proving disappointing, and they looked nervous in front of their fevered fans.

It took them more than half an hour before a Roberto Firmino header straight at De Gea represented their first attempt on goal.

It was only after the break that they began to show glimpses of their true colours, Can wriggling through to force a fine one-handed save from De Gea at full stretch before the Spanish keeper delivered an even finer stop, flying through the air to tip Coutinho's curler wide.

A brilliant last-gasp challenge by Antonio Valencia deprived Firmino but United, for all their solidity, had only one effort on target and looked back ruefully on their best chance, a tame header across goal from Ibrahimovic after a great delivery from Paul Pogba.

(Reporting by Ian Chadband; Editing by Clare Fallon)

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Winning start for Mourinho, Liverpool edge Arsenal

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored as Manchester United defeated Bournemouth 3-1 in Jose Mourinho's first Premier League game as manager on Sunday, while Liverpool edged Arsenal in a 4-3 thriller.

Juan Mata and captain Wayne Rooney were also on target at Bournemouth as United recorded a straightforward win that left them top of the table after the season's opening weekend.

Philippe Coutinho scored twice as Liverpool recovered from falling behind to Theo Walcott's goal at the Emirates Stadium, with Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane also on target for Jurgen Klopp's men.

"Eric Cantona was here at the best moment in his career. This guy is more than a player," Mourinho said of Ibrahimovic, who opened his United account with a low drive from 25 yards.

Ibrahimovic, a free signing from Paris Saint-Germain, has now scored on his debuts in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

"For the next two seasons I think he can be phenomenal for the team and the Premier League," Mourinho added.

Ibrahimovic, 34, said: "It's important to start good. Being new to the league is not easy. Everything is new for me: my team-mates, the clubs, the environment. I just play my game."

The charismatic Swedish star was handed a competitive full debut at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium along with fellow new signing Eric Bailly.

United's 89 million pounds (105 million euros, $116 million) record signing Paul Pogba was unavailable due to suspension.

Mata, controversially brought on and then taken off by Mourinho during the 2-1 Community Shield win over Leicester City last weekend, started on the right flank in place of Jesse Lingard.

United's starting XI bristled with attacking menace, but it took a calamitous blunder by defender Simon Francis for the visitors to take the lead in the 40th minute.

His woefully under-hit back-pass gave Mata a free run on goal and although Artur Boruc saved the Spaniard's shot, the ball rebounded off Francis and into Mata's path, giving him an easy tap-in.

Rooney made it 2-0 just before the hour, heading home Anthony Martial's mishit volley from six yards.

- Emirates goal-fest -

Ibrahimovic opened his Premier League account in style five minutes later, steering a shot into the bottom-left corner from range.

On the touchline Mourinho celebrated effusively and Bournemouth's consolation, a rasping shot into the top-right corner by Adam Smith, could not take the smile off his face.

"We dominated the early stages, but you can't gift Manchester United goals, which we did," said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

Spectators at the Emirates Stadium were treated to a goal-fest as Arsene Wenger's injury-depleted Arsenal were beaten at home in their opening league fixture for the third time in four years.

Injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, plus Laurent Koscielny's lack of match fitness, obliged Wenger to deploy Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding in an inexperienced centre-back pairing.

The hosts also lost Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi to injury in the second half.

Having previously seen his penalty pushed away by Simon Mignolet, Walcott atoned by drilling Arsenal into a 31st-minute lead.

But Coutinho equalised with a glorious free-kick in first-half stoppage time before making it 3-1 with a neat volley after Georginio Wijnaldum had teed up Lallana to put Liverpool ahead.

Mane, a close-season signing from Southampton, added a fourth for Liverpool with a slaloming run down the right followed by an emphatic left-foot finish.

Boos rained down from the Emirates stands and despite substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Chambers replying for the hosts, Liverpool closed out their first away win over Arsenal since 2011.

"Scoring four goals is wonderful. Conceding three is the opposite of emotions," Klopp told journalists.

"It was hard work, but we deserved to win at the end."

Wenger said: "We played a very good first half and were unlucky to concede a goal just before half-time because the free-kick was very harsh. After that we paid for a lack of experience."

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Arsenal optimism checked as West Ham claim shock win

LONDON - West Ham United capitalized on mistakes by new Arsenal new goalkeeper Petr Cech to secure a surprise 2-0 Premier League victory at the Emirates and leave the Gunners deflated on Sunday.

Philippe Coutinho's stunning late strike gave Liverpool a 1-0 victory at Stoke City to avenge their 6-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium on the final day of last season.

Steve McClaren's reign as Newcastle United manager began with a 2-2 home draw against Southampton.

Arsenal, full of opening-weekend optimism, knew the importance of a good start to the season after five draws and a defeat in the first eight games of the last campaign left them too far behind eventual champions Chelsea.

Victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield fuelled hopes that Arsene Wenger's side could improve on last season's third place but goals from Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate earned West Ham victory in Slaven Bilic's first league game in charge.

Arsenal were booed off at the final whistle with Cech culpable in both West Ham goals.

The former Chelsea keeper was signed during the close season to shore Arsenal up defensively but the experienced Czech had a day to forget in the north London sunshine.

Just before halftime he came flying out to punch Dimitri Payet's free kick but was beaten to the ball by the head of Kouyate. Twelve minutes after the restart Zarate's low strike sneaked past him at the near post.

West Ham, who gave a Premier League debut to 16-year-old midfielder Reece Oxford, were deserved winners.

"We are all very pleased and it is great start for us. Not only for the three points but points against a team that are the title contenders," former West Ham player Bilic said.

"If you add to that a London derby, it makes it an even bigger win. This is very special."

Wenger described the result as an accident.

"We know fitness-wise West Ham were ahead of us, they had already played competitive games (in the Europa League). You never get the same intensity," the Frenchman said.

"Today we have been hurt mentally and it is a good opportunity to respond."

COUTINHO MAGIC

Humiliated by Mark Hughes's side in their last Premier League outing, Liverpool's return to Stoke was a much calmer affair.

Brendan Rodgers came under fire from fans after finishing sixth last term and the Liverpool boss invested heavily in a wealth of attacking options tasked with increasing the number of goals scored from last season's paltry 52.

Striker Christian Benteke, the pick of the bunch as a 32.5 million-pounds ($50.4 million) signing from Aston Villa, was starved of service but Coutinho came to Liverpool's rescue in a match of few chances.

The little Brazilian eased past two Stoke players in the 86th minute before unleashing an unstoppable drive past the Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland.

MISSING KOEMAN

As Newcastle boss McClaren stepped foot in a dugout as a Premier League manager for the first time since 2006, his opposite number Ronald Koeman was nowhere to be seen after undergoing an operation for a ruptured Achilles this week.

The Saints seemed unaffected by their manager's absence and took the lead in the 24th minute when Italian striker Graziano Pelle rose highest to plant a header past Tim Krul but Newcastle equalised just before halftime through Papiss Cisse.

New signing Georginio Wijnaldum headed in Gabriel Obertan's perfectly-weighted cross to swing the advantage in Newcastle's favour but Shane Long equalised in the 79th minute with another headed goal.

($1 = 0.6454 pounds) (Editing by Martyn Herman and Ed Osmond)

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Brilliant Coutinho lifts Liverpool to victory over City

LONDON - Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho produced a moment of Brazilian magic to dent Manchester City's Premier League title aspirations in a 2-1 home win on Sunday as Arsenal moved up to third with a 2-0 victory against Everton.

Coutinho found the corner with a stunning curling effort to extend Liverpool's unbeaten run to 11 league games after Henderson's excellent first-half strike had been cancelled out by City's Edin Dzeko.

It was a serious blow to City manager Manuel Pellegrini and his second-placed team's hopes of retaining their title as they missed the chance to close the five-point gap on leaders Chelsea, who play Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup final later on Sunday.

Arsenal got over Wednesday's 3-1 home defeat by AS Monaco in the Champions League when France striker Olivier Giroud, who missed a glut of chances in that loss, swept in a corner after 39 minutes in a tight game against Everton at the Emirates Stadium.

Substitute Tomas Rosicky added a late second with a long- range strike to make sure of the win for the north London side.

Victory meant Arsene Wenger's team leapfrogged Manchester United in the table and moved to 51 points, four behind second-placed City. Liverpool nudged ahead of Southampton into fifth, a further three points adrift.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had expressed concerns over the fitness of his team ahead of City's visit after they had just two days to recover from a penalty shootout loss at Besiktas in a Europa League last-32 tie on Thursday.

Yet they showed no ill-effects from that match when Henderson, who passed a late fitness test, bent an excellent effort from 20 metres into the top corner to give the hosts the lead after 11 minutes, shortly after Adam Lallana had a goal ruled out for offside.

BRILLIANT GOAL

City equalised when Dzeko slotted the ball past Simon Mignolet after Sergio Aguero and David Silva had combined well to create the chance.

Lallana saw another goal chalked off nine minutes after the interval when he was again flagged for offside after he tapped in Martin Skrtel's headed knockdown from close range.

As both teams appeared to be tiring after an open and attacking match, Brazil's Coutinho found the breakthrough with a brilliant goal, curling the ball beyond a despairing dive from Joe Hart with 15 minutes remaining.

"I have to take my hat off to the players," Rodgers told Sky Sports. "To get back at half four in the early hours of Friday morning -- by the time they got to bed it was six, and they had to sleep all of Friday.

"We then did some light work yesterday, but to come out and play like they did -- they were relentless."

For City, who last week had gained two points on Chelsea as the leaders drew, it was another step backwards and a further disappointment after Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League home defeat against Barcelona.

Arsenal had to contend with their own misery in Europe but they set about 14th-placed Everton in the mood to atone for their mistakes.

Many had questioned Giroud's finishing after a dismal display against Monaco but the Frenchman had no problems putting 14th-placed Everton to the sword.

The visitors, who at times looked jaded after their 3-1 home win against Young Boys in the Europa League on Thursday, threatened occasionally through Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku but Rosicky's goal quelled their hopes of a late equaliser.

"You could see we suffered on Wednesday night against Monaco and that was still in our mind but we were patient, that got us a good chance and we got a good win today," Wenger told the BBC.

(Reporting by Sam Holden, editing by Ed Osmond and Toby Davis)

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