Soccer:Arsene Wenger has a simple solution to stop the critics rounding on Arsenal and that is to win games. The Gunners have endured one of the most testing starts to a campaign in his tenure, which resulted in them being thrashed 8-2 at Manchester United before the international break as the weaknesses of squad which sold captain Cesc Fabregas and playmaker Samir Nasri were exposed.

Arsenal followed up a nervy first Premier League victory over Swansea with a hard-earned 1-1 away draw at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Assistant manager Pat Rice, who took charge of the team at Signal Iduna Park as Wenger served a European touchline ban, felt the squad had turned the corner as they looked to the challenges ahead.

Wenger, though, firmly believes the time for positive rhetoric is over as he prepares for Saturday’s trip to bottom club Blackburn. “We must win. We live in an environment that questions us when we don’t win.We do not criticise that and have to live with that.

“We have to show performances, consistency and attitude quality, that makes us respected. It is as simple as that. That is why it is as important that we do not talk too much and play as well as we can. We feel we have turned the corner, but we will be judged by the consistency of our results.

“Inside the club, we feel we are on the right track, the spirit in the team is good, strong and together. We want to change the scepticism around us, but that will only be if we are consistent with our results. Let’s get result after result, stick together and not talk too much.

“We have a desire, the strength and the quality — it’s now just down to us to put the effort in every single game. I am confident we can do that.”