Wenger enjoying winning streak

ARSENE WENGER always felt his Arsenal side had the quality to get back to winning ways — but he is glad it happened sooner rather than later.

The Gunners recorded a fifth straight win following a 2-1 victory at Charlton on Saturday. It is a run which has seen them move to within five points of Premiership leaders Manchester United and Chelsea, having a game in hand on both.

Arsenal’s recent sparkling form, which began away to Hamburg in the Champions League and gathered momentum at Old Trafford, is in stark contrast to the opening few games of the campaign, which produced two draws and a defeat.

With struggling Watford next to visit the Emirates Stadium following the international break, the mood is positive. Wenger’s men can make it six victories in a row on the afternoon when the club will formally mark his 10th anniversary.

The Arsenal manager reflected: “I was not worried too much when we started the season without winning games because I felt the quality was there.

“However, I know there comes a point where you have to win — if you do not do that, the confidence drops so much so that you lose the quality of your game because the players then start to play scared.

“That is why the Hamburg game and after that the Manchester United match were certainly turning points for us.”

Wenger felt his side had shown their “hunger” to recover from going a goal down at The Valley, where Robin van Persie’s wonderful second-half volley secured three points for the visitors.

The 23-year-old has developed into a real talent following a difficult spell after he had moved from Feyenoord during 2004.

Van Persie said: “It was a fantastic goal — but it was important for the team because Liverpool lost and Chelsea dropped some points as well.

“The confidence is coming back.”