The Gunners recorded a memorable 5-3 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to continue their great run of Premier League form going but it was followed by an average performance against an attacking Marseille side at the Emirates, and Wenger reckons the two performances were linked. He said: "(It took it out of us) emotionally more than physically maybe. It is difficult to be on a high three days later but we still had the opportunities. "(Aaron) Ramsey in the first half had two great chances and Gervinho had a great chance. In a game like that you expect to take one of those chances." The result means Arsenal did not manage to confirm safe passage to the first knockout round but they remain favourites to top Group F, while Marseille sit second. A late Ramsey strike separated the two sides in a closely-fought encounter in France a fortnight ago and Wenger was impressed with Didier Deschamps' side again. "It was a game where we were still physically not the strongest and Marseille started stronger but I still feel in the first half we had chances to win the game," he said. "You have to give credit to Marseille, they defended very well and stopped us from playing. "The positives are that we didn't concede a goal and Marseille had one shot on target and we know in the final third we can do better." Despite a free-flowing first half, the weekend exertions certainly began to show after the break as Arsenal managed to keep the visitors at bay but the majority of the 59,961 crowd were sent home disappointed, with a Robin van Persie chip the only opportunity of note in a poor second period. The Holland international had been rested for the game after his heroics in recent weeks - including a headline-grabbing hat-trick against Chelsea. He was introduced by Wenger just after the hour mark, although Wenger refuted suggestions his captain was a 'one-man team'. He said: "He (van Persie) had a great chance when he came on and he tried to chip the keeper. We have to accept that but overall I believe that you cannot just say that one player always makes the difference." The clean sheet was certainly a boost for Wenger after he had seen his defence concede goals in eight of their last 10 matches, with the 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Manchester United back in August still hanging heavily over the club. Wenger said: "It is not all perfect but we have rebuilt the back four. "(Thomas) Vermaelen had a good game and (Per) Mertesacker was solid tonight, (Andre) Santos as well and (Carl) Jenkinson has just come back - he lacks experience in some situations but overall he did all right." Deschamps was pleased with his side's efforts throughout the match but did feel they could have taken all three points. He said: "I'm content at what I saw - there is a sense that with a little more determination, it is likely that we could have won. "We had a lot of strikes that have not gone far away against an opponent in top form. It's a good point." With a home game against Olympiacos and a trip to Borussia Dortmund remaining, Deschamps is aware of what is required but he still bemoaned the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Stade Velodrome 13 days ago. "It is well positioned," he said." "We lost stupidly and unjustly against Arsenal but we cannot go back, but tonight we can move forward. There are two matches (remaining) and we know what needs to be done."
