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Tag: wenger

  • EPL: Arsenal chief confirms Wenger possible return

    EPL: Arsenal chief confirms Wenger possible return

    Arsenal technical director Edu has spoken with Arsene Wenger about a return to the club.

    Mikel Arteta recently claimed that he would love the former Gunners boss to make a return to the Emirates.

    And Edu also believes that Arteta should be involved with the north London club.

    “It was great to see Arsene Wenger the other day at the screening for his new documentary,” Edu wrote in Arsenal’s programme on Saturday.

    “We had a good conversation, and I said to him that he cannot realise how important he is for my career.

    “I told him I would like to see him a bit closer to the club and to myself as well in the future. That would be a real, real pleasure and special for everyone here.

    “I also told him I was so proud to see myself in his film – it brought back lots of great memories about that Invincibles team!

    “I loved watching how we built that team, how we built that season, how we went for every single game – against Manchester United, against Liverpool – those huge games and how we approached them.

    “These are the beautiful memories I have as a player, but now I am a technical director, and I was watching it thinking about how we can create that culture that Arsene had at that moment.

    “The mentality that the players had, the feeling we had in the dressing room and what we built together as a team.

    “I remember the respect we had between all the players – you need that in a long, long season together.

    “We were good friends, and we worked for each other. If I can help create that again, then that’s what we want to do.”

  • This player my biggest regret and shame – Wenger

    This player my biggest regret and shame – Wenger

    Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says selling Nicolas Anelka to Real Madrid was his biggest football regret.

    Anelka established himself as one of Europe’s most-promising young strikers after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain as a 17-year-old in February 1997.

    The Frenchman won the Premier League – FA Cup double during his first full season and was crowned PFA Young Player of the Year for his 17-goal return the following campaign.

    However, Anelka endured a tricky relationship with the Arsenal fanbase and said he “can’t stand the English press” in May 1999.

    Three months later, he was unveiled as a Real Madrid player after the Spanish giants agreed a fee in excess of £22million with the Gunners.

    Speaking at a charity event alongside former Arsenal co-owner and vice-chairman David Dein, Wenger said: “My biggest regret and shame is that Anelka left. He could have been special, instead he played for 13 clubs.”

  • I could’ve left Arsenal for Man Utd, Real Madrid – Wenger

    I could’ve left Arsenal for Man Utd, Real Madrid – Wenger

    Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he could’ve taken charge of Manchester United.

    Speaking in a new documentary film, which is out in cinemas this week, Wenger has explained how he thinks something may have been “broken” after he guided Arsenal to an unbeaten Premier League season in 2003-04.

    The Frenchman has revealed that in 2007, when current owner Stan Kroenke first started buying shares in the club, he came close to leaving.

    “2007 was a decisive point,” said Wenger. “It’s the first time I could feel there were tensions inside the board.

    “David Dein had an agreement with Stan Kroenke, who he wanted to bring in. I was torn between being loyal to the club and being loyal to David.

    “Sometimes I wonder was something broken after that Invincible season? Because I had done what I really wanted deeply. Is it a symbol? Is it linked with me that after that when I thought that I had achieved the highest level that I didn’t do it again?”

    David Dein, who was vice-chairman at the time, has revealed he persuaded Wenger to stay in charge of Arsenal.

    “He actually wanted to leave,” said Dein. “And I said to him: ‘You have to stay, Arsene.’”

    Wenger added in the new documentary: “I still today wonder if I did the right thing, because life was never exactly the same after.

    “I thought, I now have to go to the end of this project. I could have gone to the French national team, the English national team twice or three times even.

    “I could have gone twice to Real Madrid, I could have gone to Juventus, to Paris Saint-Germain, even to Man United. My fatal flaw is that I love too much where I am…where I was.”

  • Arsenal’s Invincibles above everything I won at Man Utd – Alex Ferguson

    Arsenal’s Invincibles above everything I won at Man Utd – Alex Ferguson

    Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Arsenal’s Invincibles outstripped anything he achieved over his managerial career.

    Ferguson made the claim when paying tribute to Arsene Wenger in a documentary about the former Arsenal manager.

    In 2003-04 Arsenal did what no team in the top-flight had done since Preston in 1888-89 – survive an entire league season without losing.

    Ferguson said: “The achievements stand above everything else.”

    Elsewhere in the newly-released two-minute trailer for “Arsene Wenger – Invincible”, Ferguson is seen reflecting on the heated rivalry that took centre stage throughout the late 1990s and 2000s.

    The Scot said: “I’m saying to myself: ‘Is he looking for a war?’”

  • Arsene Wenger describes his Arsenal exit as ‘a funeral’

    Arsene Wenger describes his Arsenal exit as ‘a funeral’

    Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has hinted that he was sacked by the club in May 2018.

    Wenger, in his new documentary, said “it was not really” his decision to step down after 22 years in charge.

    The Frenchman also described his Arsenal exit as “a funeral”.

    During his stint with the Gunners, Wenger won three league titles and seven FA Cups, including league and cup doubles in both 1998 and 2002.

    Wenger also oversaw the ‘Invincibles’ season back in 2004, when Arsenal went the entire Premier League season without defeat.

    But the final years of his reign were marred by fan protest after some disappointing campaigns.

    A few days after announcing he was stepping down, Wenger hinted that the call was “not really” his decision. And it now appears he could be about to set the record straight.

    Speaking ahead of the launch of his new documentary, Arsène Wenger: Invincible, Wenger said: “You realise that the end of something is like a funeral.”

    Also in the trailer, former Gunners forward Dennis Bergkamp gave an insight into Wenger’s struggles following the decision, with the Dutch ace, saying: “It would have been easier if he had made the decision.”

  • Players back World Cup changes – Arsene Wenger

    Players back World Cup changes – Arsene Wenger

    Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he has the players’ support for a World Cup every two years.

    Wenger is pushing the change, despite burnout fears from some players.

    He told La Repubblica: “The players are with me. I want to group the qualifiers in one or two international windows and leave the players with their clubs for the rest of the season.

    “It is to create not a closed and exclusive but inclusive circle, giving opportunities to all countries. It can make people happy. Tradition does not mean standing still.

    “They have consulted a certain number of top players and I know they would prefer to play more important games.”

  • Wenger optimistic about Gunners squad under Arteta

    Wenger optimistic about Gunners squad under Arteta

    Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has said the club’s current boss, Mikel Arteta, has a “quality” squad.

    Wenger, however, expressed sympathy over the Gunners’ difficult start to the new season.

    Arsenal faced both the reigning European and Premier League champions in two of their first three fixtures.

    Before Saturday’s narrow 1-0 win against Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta’s side endured the club’s lowest point.

    The north London club went into the international break with a record of three games played, with zero points, zero goals scored and nine goals conceded.

    However, the victory over the Canaries lifted the Gunners off of the foot of the table and into 16th.

    Wenger told beIN Sport: “First of all, I like to usually say what I think – I believe in this situation I am first an Arsenal fan, after that of course when I talk about Arsenal it is a very sensitive subject and at the moment the timing is maybe not the best to talk.

    “I must say, I find the squad quite of quality, I’m not pessimistic because I feel they had two difficult games out of the first three.”

  • Best thing is to stay away from Arsenal – Wenger

    Best thing is to stay away from Arsenal – Wenger

    Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he won’t be returning to the club anytime soon.

    Despite now watching on as a fan, Wenger has still stood firm on his promise to stay away from the Emirates even as just a visitor.

    “Would I return to the Emirates Stadium? I always said to myself that I would be leaving Arsenal completely,” he told BeIN Sport.

    “That’s the decision I made.”

    He later expanded on his position in an interview with BBC Sport, stating: “I have chosen to keep a complete distance.

    “It doesn’t mean emotionally, just physically.

    “It’s important people don’t see you as a shadow. It may look like you’re still trying to influence things and have your way.

    “I felt that the best thing to do is cut it away.”

  • Wenger: Stupid PSG mentally collapsed after City loss

    Wenger: Stupid PSG mentally collapsed after City loss

    Former Arsenal boss Areene Wenger slammed PSG’s players as “stupid” after their Champions League defeat to Manchester City.

    Wenger believes PSG’s second-half collapse was due to their poor discipline.

    Speaking about Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick, Wenger told beIN SPORT: “From the defenders turning their back, it’s between Paredes and Kimpembe. Why do you lie a guy on the ground if the guys in the wall open the wall?’

    “I personally believe that the second goal is not acceptable for that level. It’s not the first time we see players turning their back and City took advantage of that.

    “But I must say in the second half PSG were protective and not progressive any more. Is it because they were not physically capable?

    “After the 1-1, they collapsed completely. They become emotional and aggressive in a stupid way.”

    PSG became visibly irate as the second half turned against them with Neymar particularly getting embroiled in spats off the ball after a first half where he shone for the French giants.

    “What was very interesting tonight is that you could see that when it was 1-1, PSG mentally collapsed,” Wenger added.

    “This is as well the consequence of this team losing eight games in the league. This has an impact in this kind of situation.

    “When it’s 1-1 the team knows they have lost many games, they carry that. It’s not like the season before when they were unbeatable in the league.

    “You could see the confidence dropped considerably and the mental impact when Man City equalised, for the semi-final of a Champions League, was too big.”

  • I speak to Guardiola, Wenger whenever I can – Henry

    I speak to Guardiola, Wenger whenever I can – Henry

    Arsenal legend Thierry Henry admits he is always in touch with former managers Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola.

    Henry had the privilege of playing under Wenger at Arsenal and under Guardiola at Barca.

    The Frenchman recently stepped down as coach of CF Montreal due to family reasons.

    Henry told FourFourTwo: “Whenever I see a coach, I always speak to them. Obviously, I speak to Pep, and I speak to Arsene whenever I can reach him. We speak because when I was a player and he was a coach, I was chewing his ear out. Now as a coach I want to know things.

    “Arsene triggered my brain – I needed that at the time.

    “I needed to be more confident, to realise what type of player I was and what I could do. I started to ask myself the right questions. I always blamed others, but I began to blame myself first.

    “I started to see how I could help others instead of saying to others, ‘Hey, you need to help me’.”

    Henry also stated he would love to one day manage Barcelona or Arsenal.