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Tag: Arsene Wenger

  • Arsenal have recovered from crisis – Arsene Wenger

    Arsenal have recovered from crisis – Arsene Wenger

    Arsenal coach,Arsene Wenger says the club have “recovered from crisis” having won their last four games.

    Back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and in the Premier League came in a run of four consecutive losses over February and March, with Wenger confirming fans had “hatred” towards his position as manager of the team

    Arsenal are now 13 points off the top four with just seven league games remaining, but can still qualify for next season’s Champions League by winning the Europa League.

    They play the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against CSKA Moscow at the Emirates on Thursday, and Wenger believes his side are out of a “crisis” period.

    “We were very disappointed with our result against [Manchester] City,” said Wenger. “It takes time to grieve and to recover.

    “But because the mentality in the team is very good, strong and healthy – we’re recovered.

    “I think always you judge a team by the way they come out of a crisis. On that front I believe that is very positive on our side.

    “There’s some extra pressure on us to do extremely well in this competition but that’s part of being where we are.

    “We have to see it in a way it’s an opportunity we want to take and keep the priorities right and of course focus on how well we play together, how we want to play.”

    Arsenal have scored nine goals in their last three games in comfortable wins over Stoke, AC Milan and Watford since then, but attendances at the Emirates have dropped.

    Wenger has repeatedly been the subject of calls for him to leave from the stands, but he is unconcerned by the prospect of the atmosphere affecting his team’s performance in the first leg against CSKA before heading to Russia.

    “I’m not worried about that, the crowd when something is at stake is always behind us,” said Wenger. “What will decide the attitude of the crowd is the quality of our game.

    “I’m always concerned when our stadium is not completely full but I don’t think that will be a problem tomorrow, the problem for us is our performance.”

    Wenger also hopes Arsenal’s game against CSKA is not impacted by strained relations between UK and Russian governments.

    “Honestly nobody knows what is going on and it looks more to be diplomatic relations are a bit complicated,” he said.

    “I hope it will not affect both ties, the supporters, the Russians who come here and the English who travel there.”

    Sky Sports

  • Suffering is part of my job, Arsene Wenger declares

    Suffering is part of my job, Arsene Wenger declares

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says suffering is all part of being a manager and admits he has had his fair share of late.

    Yet the smile returned to the Frenchman’s face on Friday after his side snapped a four-match losing streak to beat AC Milan 2-0 in the San Siro the previous evening.

    Arsenal closed in on the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League.

    “Any manager will tell you that when you don’t get results the first thing affected is the mood, the lack of sleep,” Wenger said.

    “I’ve managed in 820 or so Premier League games and 200 odd European games but there is no possibility not to suffer. You have to suffer. You have to be capable to go through periods when it’s very difficult.”

    Wenger’s future at Arsenal, where he has been in charge since 1996, has been a source of constant debate.

    His team are down in sixth place in the English Premier League, having suffered a 3-0 thrashing by Manchester City in the English League Cup final.

    He says he has had messages of support from past and current managers, even old adversary Alex Ferguson, and that finding solutions to problems remains an addictive part of the job.

    “The desire to find solutions is interesting as well,” he said. “When you are a young manager you think you can win every game but it’s not like that. It is to survive the disappointments. It can make you a better manager.”

    Wenger says money and ‘starification’ has become too important in football.

    “At the end of the day I have to stand up for what is important for the club,” he said. “I am thankful that I have respect in the game. Football is first about values but my regret is that has gone underwater.”

    Wenger says some of the recent criticism aimed at himself and his players have been over the top.

    “We have to have a little perspective. We got to a Cup final and we fight to be in a Cup final,” the 68-year-old said. “We played against the best team in the country.

    “We have been in four finals in the last five years and lost once, against Man City who is the best team in the country. So, it’s surprising the intensity the storm the players have faced.”

    Arsenal face Watford on Sunday with their hopes of a top-four finish hanging by a thread, as they trail fourth-placed Tottenham by 13 points.

    They will be without injured Alexandre Lacazette and Hector Bellerin against Watford while Sead Kolasinac is a doubt with an ankle problem.

  • Securing my job, my ‘last worry’ – Arsene Wenger

    Securing my job, my ‘last worry’ – Arsene Wenger

    Arsene Wenger says keeping his job as Arsenal boss is his “last worry” after losing six of their 12 games in 2018.

    The Gunners host leaders Manchester City in the Premier League on Thursday, four days after a 3-0 defeat by City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

    Arsenal are 27 points behind City and 10 adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham in the race for a Champions League place.

    Wenger, Arsenal manager since 1996, said he is “amazed I still have to answer these kinds of questions”.

    The 68-year-old Frenchman signed a new two-year contract in May 2017 after leading Arsenal to a third FA Cup triumph in four seasons, although they missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years.

    “I’ve turned the whole world down to respect my contracts,” he added.

    “My position is the last worry I have at the moment. My worry is to get the team focused and ready for tomorrow’s game.”

    On Thursday, sixth-placed Arsenal play their game in hand over Tottenham and if they win they will be seven points behind their north London rivals – and five behind fifth-placed Chelsea – with 10 matches remaining.

    Winning the Europa League is another route into the Champions League and Arsenal face AC Milan in the last 16.

    Wenger has faced increased scrutiny over his position in recent seasons, and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said on BBC Radio 5 live he “could not make a case” for the Frenchman to remain as manager beyond the end of this season.

    But a defiant Wenger once again hit back at questions over his future in a media conference on Wednesday.

    “My job is to focus on performing and it’s for other people to judge me,” he said. “Does it stop you sleeping that my position is certain or uncertain? The game on Thursday night is the important thing.”

    “It’s not always possible to win games. We have to live with the criticism, it’s part of the modern game. But we have to focus on the next one and respond together in a united way.”

     

    BBC

  • Arsene Wenger confident of seeing out 2-year contract at Arsenal

    Arsene Wenger confident of seeing out 2-year contract at Arsenal

    Long-serving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hopeful of seeing out his current two-year contract at the English Premier League club amid speculation about his future.

    The Frenchman signed a new contract at Arsenal at the end of last season but the club have shown little progress this term.

    They sit sixth in the league, knocked out of the English FA Cup and unsure of UEFA Champions League qualification for next season.

    The club’s inconsistent performance has led to speculation that Wenger’s 22-year reign could come to an end after the current season.

    “I have always respected my contracts,’’ Wenger, 68, said.

    “I will like to recall that I said `no’ to all the biggest clubs in the world to respect my contract. So, that’s always what I try to do.

    “After that, we have as well to accept in our job that the future is the future. But, for me, that’s to win the next game.

    “We have to perform better in every single game and show until the end of the season a complete hunger to win every single game. That’s what it’s about for us.”

    Arsenal’s best chances of winning a trophy remain in the English League Cup, as they face Manchester City in the final on Feb. 25.

    They are also in the UEFA Europa League, where they recorded a 3-0 win over Ostersunds in the first leg of their last 32 tie on Thursday.

    The Europa League is also Arsenal’s most viable option to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.

    The eight-point gap to fourth-placed Chelsea in the league appears insurmountable with 11 games left to play.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal dealing with losing great player in Sanchez

    Arsene Wenger has praised his players for their spirited display which saw them beat Chelsea 2-1 in the second leg semi-final of the Carabao Cup at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

    The Arsenal boss,Wenger also says that The Gunners are dealing with the challenge of losing a great player‎ in Alexis Sanchez who has joined Manchester United

    Despite conceding early following Eden Hazard opener, an own goal by Antonio Ruediger and a Granit Xhaka strike, secured Arsenal’s place in the final where they will face Manchester City.

    Speaking in his post-match analysis of the game, Wenger admitted they struggled in the early part of the game but still managed to pull through.

    “In the first half we gave Chelsea too much respect and distance. We were a bit scared to go for it and we suffered from that.

    “We were not playing in the right position but we amended that in the second half and took control of the game. We knew we could perform better in the second half and that’s what we did. In the first half we watched them play a bit but we were tighter after the break.

    “We lost a great player in Alexis Sanchez but when a team doesn’t know what’s going on in the dressing room there is less clarity and focus on performances. We know we have to deal with it now.”

    Wenger went on to express delight that Arsenal will be heading back to Wembley Stadium.

    He said:”We have some time to prepare for the final but we are happy to take our fans to Wembley. We’ve been there a few times now and we’re happy to be going again.”

  • Don’t lower your team spirit, Arsene Wenger tells Wilshere

    Arsenal boss confirms that he’s not forcing Jack Wilshere to limit his game.

    Wenger, ahead of their Europa League opener with FC Koln, declared: “I don’t give the team away.

    “I believe Jack needs to continue with the spirit he works and plays with.

    “There was always a huge pressure on him to come back as quickly as possible. He is getting stronger and stronger every day.

    “He was a bit behind the other players.

    “Every game is an opportunity for him and this season.”

     

     

  • My future at Arsenal will be decided after FA Cup final – Wenger

    Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, said a decision on his future at the club would be made at a board meeting after their FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 27.

    The Frenchman will be out of contract at the Emirates at the end of the campaign as he prepares for the final Premier League game of the season against Everton.

    He hopes that the club will finish in the top-four for the 21st consecutive season.

    “I don’t know what will happen in the meeting,” Wenger said this at a news conference on Friday.

    “There are many aspects of a football club which has to be discussed at a board meeting. One of those is what happens with the manager, the players coming in and contract renewals.

    “The most important thing is to win the football game. What happens to me after that is less important,’’ he said.

    When asked whether a decision will be announced shortly after the FA Cup final, he replied, “of course.”

    The North London club is relying on an upset to secure Champions League qualification.

     

     

    NAN