Big games are coming thick and fast this month – and nobody is more aware of that than Cedric.
Arsenal’s full-back was part of a resolute backline in Wednesday evening’s comeback win over Liverpool, and cannot wait to take that confidence into Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.
“It was a great win for us,” he said. “In football, in some moments, you need to be able to suffer to win. I think we are improving a lot at this. The spirit is getting better and better in the team and we showed here without suffering you cannot win.
“Some games you just need to adapt to the circumstances and last night that was the case. It was a tough game but we were able to show great character and this made the difference. We defended together and we were very, very strong. It made a huge difference.
“We know it will be another tough game against a great opponent on the weekend, but we are in a good moment. I just think we need to keep this spirit and the rest will come. If we keep working like this, it is just the natural way for a win to come.
“Last night we had a great reaction with character, we showed that sometimes you need to be able to suffer and stay together as one. We did that, we showed a great attitude, everyone was supporting one another and when that happens the wins can happen like they did.
“The team have moments and when you keep growing something the wins always give you a push. You have to believe in the work of the coaching staff every day and, of course, when you win you can believe more and it helps the team in that moment. I am looking forward to playing on Saturday.”
We kept our European hopes alive with a morale-boosting victory against Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Coming into a game against the champions off the back of a north London derby defeat was hardly ideal preparation, but we delivered a gritty, backs-to-the-wall performance to claim the points after goals from Alex Lacazette and Reiss Nelson.
With Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City looming large, Mikel Arteta made five changes to his side but it was the visitors who dominated much of the first half.
Playing with the swagger of the Premier League’s top dogs, Liverpool pushed us back in our own half for long periods and it came as little surprise when they took the lead through Sadio Mane’s close-range finish.
But for all their dominance, the visitors could not extend their advantage and we made them pay the price when Lacazette took advantage of a Virgil van Dijk error to score.
We then benefitted from another Liverpool mistake when Allison played a pass straight to Lacazette, who found Nelson to slot home his first Premier League goal.
We would have expected a response from the Reds after the interval, and we got one with Emi Martinez soon called into action to make a close-range save from Mohamed Saleh.
read also:Hleb: I cried over Arsenal exit; most players regret leaving
Liverpool continued to pile on the pressure, but for all their possession we were standing firm and making life difficult for them as the game reached its closing stages.
Mane had the best chance for the visitors late on when he got goal side of Ainsley Maitlan-Niles but poked his shot wide, while Joe Wilock had a very late opportunity but sliced wide from close range.
That was that, and we claimed a welcome three points. On to Wembley next.