Wenger Retains Board’s Support
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has given Arsene Wenger his complete backing despite admitting that the team’s performances in the recent past have been disappointing.
After Arsenal’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Blackburn Rovers, reports emerged that their French manager is set to be given a two-year contract extension. The Gunners haven’t won a single trophy in the last seven and a half years under Wenger, and so the board’s purported intention of prolonging his stay at the club infuriated some Arsenal fans.
Hill-Wood has made it clear that sacking a legendary figure like Wenger is not the solution to the problem and the board stands completely behind the 63-year-old trainer.
The Daily Star have quoted Hill-Wood as saying: “You have your ups and downs and we are having a bit of a down. But some of the reaction has been a bit hysterical. You hear clubs being criticised for sacking their manager too quickly. Now there are people out there calling for us to sack a manager who has been a huge success for 15 years. That does not help much. I have been extremely disappointed by some of the recent results.
“I have been an Arsenal fan for a lot longer than most so I think I know what it feels like. It hurts a lot and I am sure Arsene is hurting too. He is very diplomatic and calm but deep down he feels very strongly and he is as upset as anyone. It’s not just me who is backing Arsene. (Major shareholder) Stan Kroenke is very supportive too.”
Arteta Wants Strong Start against Bayern
Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal teammates to start strongly in the first leg of their Champions League knock stage showdown with Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
The Gunners have developed a habit of playing poorly in the first-halves of big matches this season and therefore, they find themselves enduring yet another mediocre campaign. While their level of play improves in the second period, it usually proves insufficient to counter the damage done earlier in the game.
Arteta has taken notice of that problem and so he wants his teammates to keep their mind on the game from the very beginning and not get intimidated by the opposition.
The Spanish playmaker said: “The last few big games we missed the first 20-25 minutes and the gave the opposition probably too much respect. We want to face a different scenario with Bayern and get into the game show that we want to win it.
“The table of the Premier League of first and second 45 minutes is very different. That shows our qualities are very good, because when teams tire a little bit we are able to [score], but also that we are not ready from the off to do what we want right from the start.
“It gives you extra motivation because you are facing top players and a top club and you want to show how good you are against them. We have a great test now and we want to face that with the maximum desire and a positivity around the squad and go out there and win it.”
Schweinsteiger Impressed With Wilshere Quality
Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger says that Arsenal may not have legendry ‘players like Tony Adams or Thierry Henry’ in their squad anymore but in Jack Wilshere they possess a gem that is destined for greatness.
Ahead of Bayern’s Champions League round of 16 clash with the Gunners, the German said: “Yes the days are gone when they had players like Tony Adams or Thierry Henry – maybe they are still wishing for those players. But they still have a good team. You only have to look at Jack Wilshere who is an excellent player. After he was out for so long, he is back now and showing his form. In his position, he is one of the best players there is.
“It has a lot to do with his size. Your typical English player is over six foot – I would say that with Jack Wilshere he has different movements. He is dynamic, he has a good left foot and he has a good eye for his players around him. Those are his talents.”
Despite Wilshere’s obvious quality, Schweinsteiger doesn’t think that paying too much defensive attention to him will be the right tactical move, as he believes the Gunners have quality pouring all over the park.
He added: “I don’t think one player makes a team – they do have 10 other players. He is a very difficult opponent. We will try and minimise his influence on the game, but don’t forget Arsenal is a very good team. Arsenal is not your classic English team. They have more of a European style with (Santi) Cazorla in there. I don’t know why they haven’t won a title for so many years because they have the capabilities. I would say Arsenal are still amongst the top-10 teams in Europe.”
Wenger Urges Gunners to Stay Positive
Arsene Wenger has told his Arsenal players to focus on their own game and not on the form and quality of their opponents Bayern Munich when the two sides meet at Emirates Stadium later tonight.
The Gunners’ season went from bad to worse last weekend when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers at home. On the other hand, Bayern have been almost flawless in the Bundesliga this season and currently lead their domestic division by a massive 15 points.
Despite the obvious difference in both the club’s fortunes, Wenger believes his men can triumph if they concentrate on what they can do rather than what their opponents can do.
The Frenchman said: “What is important is that we focus on the quality of our game, that we play at our best and play with belief. We have to put it in our head that we have 180 minutes to qualify and not to rush our game. If I listen to the questions, we are not favourites but I trust our quality, our spirit and our mental strength.
“It is always difficult to take a distance with the recent emotional fact, but the most important aspect is that we have a way to play which everyone in the teams know. We must play with a positive mentality, it is important you believe you have a good chance and quality enough to win. The psychological aspect, especially with what happened on Saturday, is more important than nothing else.”
Podolski Assures Bayern Reunion Won’t Faze Him
Lukas Podolski says that he has a lot of respect for his former club Bayern Munich but he will not let it affect his game when his current club Arsenal clash with the German giants on Tuesday night at Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal forward was a Bayern player for three years before leaving them to rejoin his former club Koln in 2008. He was then signed by the Gunners last summer and now that he has set to face his former employers, he admits that it will be an emotional reunion for him.
In an interview with The Sun, Podolski said: “I had a great time at Bayern for three years. I have lots of memories of playing for the club and I am proud. I wish I had achieved more there. I won the cup and the league. Playing for Bayern was still a help, in my life generally. But it went so quickly. Bayern is in the past. Now I am at Arsenal and looking forward to achieving things here. I feel it is not productive when you talk about what did or didn’t work.
“If I am being honest, it would be more difficult if Arsenal were playing Cologne. They are my team. My club. Emotionally, it would have been far more intense. I was there from the age of 10, joined Bayern, and went back there before playing for Arsenal.”
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