Rooney: We Must Kick On

Wayne Rooney insists Manchester United must use the hard-fought point earned at the Emirates on Wednesday night as a platform for more positive results in the coming month.

The Reds produced an impressive defensive display against second-placed Arsenal and went close to pinching all three points when Robin van Persie’s second-half header was pushed on to the crossbar.

After a disappointing start to 2014 Rooney hopes the point gained in North London is the start of a good run, with upcoming league tests against Liverpool and Manchester City and the resumption of the Champions League all coming up in the next few weeks.

“We’ve got a lot of massive games in the Champions League and the league. We’re all looking forward to them,” Rooney told ManUtd.com.

“I thought we did alright [on Wednesday]. It was a decent point. Arsenal are obviously a good team but we defended really well and maybe could have nicked it with the couple of chances we had.

“Coming to Arsenal any time and getting a point is always a good result. You have to take confidence from it. We’ve been stop-start for most of the season, but we hope we can build on this.

“We have a bit of a break before our next game now and hopefully we can prepare well and kick on for the big matches coming up.”

In preparation for the upcoming tests, the Reds have escaped the inclement UK weather and are currently enjoying some warm-weather training and team-bonding.

“It’s nice to spend time together,” added the striker. “When you’re at home you go to training then you go home and see your families, but with trips like this you’re training then spending time with the lads.

It’s good for us all to be together.

“It’s a different environment for us and hopefully we can get some good training sessions in so we come back ready for the [Crystal] Palace game [on 22 February] and the start of the Champions League.”

With Rooney and strike partner Robin van Persie now back to full fitness, fans will be hoping to see the pair’s relationship with new signing Juan Mata continue to blossom.

“It’s exciting,” insisted Rooney, when asked about playing alongside the pair. “Juan has come in and it’s another world-class player to have in the squad. It’ll take time - it can always take a little bit of time for every player to gel and to bond but we really hope we can all start scoring goals and help the team be successful.”