Arsene Wenger keeps perspective as Arsenal beat Manchester United

Arsene Wenger again warned against "excessive" judgement after his Arsenal side beat Manchester United 3-0 at the Emirates.

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Three early goals - two from Alexis Sanchez and another from Mesut Ozil - blew United away and took Arsenal above their visitors into second place in the Premier League.

Wenger was pleased with his side's reaction to a Champions League defeat to Olympiakos, the fallout from which saw him threaten to cut short a press conference and insist his side are genuine contenders for the Premier League.

But the Arsenal manager was as restrained in his praise as he had been in his midweek criticism, and he warned there are likely to be further peaks and troughs in performance before the season is up.

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He told Sky Sports: "We decided to start strong, to press, to be quick in transition. We did that well, and when we do that we can score goals. After that we were disciplined to defend well together, to be compact and it worked."

Wenger conceded there is room for improvement in Arsenal's attitude against lower-ranked European sides but again defended their domestic record.

He said: "We are second in the league - two points off the leaders. It's always excessive. We have played some great games - we've won four away and places where it's difficult to win like Leicester and Crystal Palace.

"I have managed many, many teams and I have never had a team that played from the first to the 50th game at the same level. Unfortunately it doesn't happen. I would love it to!

"You always need to win the big games, and I played enough in my life to know it's vital for confidence, but you have to back it up with next performance.

"Next we go to Watford. Let's be at the same level on preparation and pray everyone comes back fit from the national team games."

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Wenger played down fears over Sanchez after the Chilean was replaced late on, calling his injury "a little groin problem", and there was a word of praise for Theo Walcott.

He said: "That is the most committed I have seen him to the cause for a long time. It took him time to recover from a bad injury, but his performance today was outstanding."

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