We can win ugly... unlike Gunners

SAMIR NASRI says Arsenal must start winning ugly to rescue their season.

Arsene Wenger has always been praised for sticking to his footballing principles and producing some of the most exciting teams seen.

But when they start to struggle and hit a rut there is no plan B.

Former Gunner Nasri says that Manchester City might have blown teams away this season but they have also ground out results when the going has got tough. Now he thinks it is time that Wenger's beleaguered team did the same.

Nasri, 24, said: "It's football. Sometimes it's good to win ugly.

"You don't always have to play good football to win.

"Arsenal play good football but after seven years they don't win so that's difficult for them but the manager has a good philosophy. I know they'll find some solution."

City began the season in record-breaking style hammering teams but have had to dig deep of late.

They have had single-goal wins over Wigan and Aston Villa and a last-gasp penalty claimed three points at home to Tottenham.

Last week they had to come from behind in their Europa League first leg in Porto to win 2-1.

Nasri said: "The problem is everyone is used to 5-1 and 6-1 and in a season you have moments where you don't feel the same way. It's important to win points and games in the league and Europa League and that's what we have done.

"If we start to play like the first 13 games dropping just two points we'll be champions but you must deal with the low moments."

Arsenal have had plenty of those to deal with this season.

They are out of all cup competitions and only have a battle to make it into the Champions League for next season left now. That is not a given.

The turmoil at Arsenal makes Nasri all the more certain he made the right move when he switched from the Emirates to the Etihad for a £24million summer fee.

He said: "I never doubted I made the right choice in coming here and we're top of the league and still on course for the Europa League too so I'm happy "What Arsenal do doesn't matter, it was just my choice. I don't want Arsenal to fall down.

"I wanted them to win the FA Cup or something because I've respect for them."

Nasri has had a tough first season with City with early promise fading. But he insists the City fans will see the reason the club spent so much on him even though he denies that price-tag has added extra pressure on him.

Nasri said: "I never asked City to pay £24m, so it's not me. It was a lot of money but every transfer now has a lot of money.

"What you want to do is to give something to the team and the people who brought you here and trusted you.

"It's always tough when you change and go to another team. You must be involved 100 per cent and I wasn't. Now I've started to be settled, you'll see a better Samir every week."