After a brilliant display in the defensive department, Arsenal battled their way past Stoke City and moved to only one point from leaders Manchester United.

Speaking after the game in his post-match press conference, manager Arsene Wenger was happy with the three points as he described the win as a professional one. Full of praise for Stoke City, the Arsenal boss highlighted the maturity of his young side as he added how it was a game played in good spirit with strong challenges but overall correct.

Wenger continued by saying how last season or the one before the Gunners were dropping points when not at their best but how things changed this season as they are now capable of winning games even when less creative and less fluent.

Asked about Theo Walcott who was stretchered off in the second part of the game, the Frenchman explained that the 21-year old sprained his ankle and will miss the League Cup Final at Wembley against Birmingham City with no return date as yet set for the Englishman.

We did the job in a very professional way. We faced a Stoke team that defended very well, very compact, but we were intelligent, calm, patient and overall I believe that we were resilient as well when Stoke had their strong moments because we didn’t give in when they did what they do very well.

I think overall the game was played in a good spirit. It was committed with strong challenges but overall correct. I think we have matured, certainly. We can win a game tonight when we are less creative, less fluent, but with intelligence, brain and calm.

That is what has changed. Before, one or two years ago when we were not at our best, we dropped points. Tonight you could see the team realised ‘let’s not make the mistake’ and I must give a lot of credit to my players.

[Theo] Walcott has an ankle sprain and he’s out [of Sunday's League Cup Final], for how long I can’t tell you, but for Sunday he is definitely out.