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Wenger: Positive mindset secret to Arsenal's style of play

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says the key to their success is players always make themselves available for the ball. The Gunners have been renowned for their easy-on-the-eye style of play since Wenger took control of the club in 1996, winning many plaudits along the way.

Wenger "For it to work, players must make themselves available and we work on that in training," he told French radio.

"That's where top-level sport becomes really interesting, in finding a way to have the team in a position of psychological comfort so that they can offer solutions.

"Because you know that, when doubt creeps in, the green lights become red lights.

"Because each player takes fewer spontaneous initiatives and, all of a sudden, it's absolutely unbelievable at what speed all those lights become red and the player with the ball finds himself in the s***.

"Doubt is the key enemy of our game but, eventually, we must at the same time give our team the sense of availability.

"And, on a psychological level, we must give them a taste for audacity and for developing connections between each other."

Wenger has only made one addition to the squad that finished fourth in the table last season, central defender Thomas Vermaelen, and he said another key factor for success is keeping a squad together without regularly selling or buying players.

"When you change more than three players from game to game you take a technical risk," he added.

"The balance of a team doesn't depend on one player but if you change three it's a grave risk, not only in a game but also in signing players.

"Sometimes when the players are extremely intelligent they adapt very quickly and it can also click very quickly. But it's rare."

 Click here for more Arsenal news and comment from Arsene Wenger

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