The red-hot Dutchman chalked up his 19th goal of the campaign with a brilliant volley to beat Everton 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, in a match which was watched by a host of Arsenal legends as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations. It was a moment of sublime skill, volleying Alex Song's floated ball across the penalty area into the far corner on 70 minutes to settle an otherwise frustrating game for the hosts, who looked set to be left empty-handed against a determined Everton defence after squandering several early chances. While Wenger appreciates his number 10 will take centre stage, the Arsenal manager knows without the rest of the squad all pulling together, a run of seven wins from eight Premier League games to move back up into the top four would not have been possible. "It is a tradition in football that the goalscorers always get the plaudits, but I must say Robin deserves that because he has always been remarkably consistent," Wenger said. "But I am very pleased as well that the team has improved defensively. "When you look at the goals we conceded at the start of the season, we look much more solid now. "We didn't give a chance away against Everton, basically, so on that front we are better." Wenger added: "We are in a team sport and without our partners we are nobody - but at the end of the day the media always (pick) somebody out." Many famous names from Arsenal's past - including the likes of 1971 double-winning captain Frank McLintock and striker Charlie George, record appearance holder David O'Leary, 1989 title-winning manager George Graham and "Invincibles" Robert Pires, Jens Lehmann and all-time leading scorer Thierry Henry - helped mark the club's milestone. When the pre-match ceremonies were out of the way and the action started, Arsenal should have made more from their early openings, as Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Gervinho all had decent chances. However, in what has become something of a tradition for Wenger's latest side, those missed opportunities looked like coming back to haunt the hosts as Everton dug in during the second half with what was a resolute defensive display, while still posing a threat on the break and at set-pieces. A second successive home draw would also have left Arsenal further behind in the chase for the top four. After giving up so much ground from their disastrous start to the campaign, which saw the Gunners as low as 17th, Wenger admits that would have been costly. "We started from so deep that nobody could have predicted that at the beginning of December, we would be where we are now," said Wenger, whose side next face a trip to leaders Manchester City. "We have to keep going because we are still far away. "We try very hard. Next Sunday will be a big test for us, but we have a week to prepare. "It will be a good test to see where we are." Had Everton left north London with a point, it would not have been wholly undeserved, and they almost did when substitute Conor McAleny - the 19-year-old Merseyside-born forward making his senior debut - flashed an effort just wide in stoppage time. David Moyes' well-organised side are now coming into a run of fixtures - at home to both Norwich and Swansea and then the trip to Sunderland on Boxing Day - which could see them move closer to the leading pack. "We had won two out of three before, so we were in decent form," said the Everton boss. "The players acquitted themselves well again, especially in the second half. "I can't ask for an awful lot more." Moyes added: "Perhaps a cutting edge would be a start, but then I am sure I will find there is something else which needs to be fixed."
