Nasri refutes "relentless criticism"

4th December 2008

Samir Nasri maintains it is now up to Arsenal to prove criticism of their Barclays Premier League title aspirations were nothing more than "nonsense".

The Gunners kick-started their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea after coming from behind at Stamford Bridge.

Although still some eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool - who must come to Emirates Stadium on December 21 - it was a second win over their direct rivals, having also seen off Manchester United last month.

It marked the end of a troubled spell both on and off the pitch for Arsene Wenger's men, now led by new skipper Cesc Fabregas after William Gallas was stripped of the captaincy for airing his controversial views in public.

However, Nasri insists the Gunners are a united dressing room and all the negative comments from pundits are completely unjustified.

"There is lots of relentless criticism about Arsenal that is not fair, but now it is up to us to stop talking, to work hard at training and to show on the pitch that all of that is nonsense," the France winger declared. "We know the quality we have, we know what is in our dressing room and that everything is okay at the club so we can prove them wrong."