Arsenal-Mania

Wenger stresses the belief he has in his squad

By Jonathan Chong on Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Manager Arsčne Wenger has said that he has more than enough belief in his squad, and that they just had a bad day at Fulham.

The Frenchman stressed that in a world where every decision he makes is scrutinised, he has to accept that his team were not good enough against their West London rivals.

Wenger said: "We live in a world now where you have to accept the critics and a definite conclusion from everybody.

"We had a bad game at Fulham and credit to them because they played very well.

"No matter how good you are in life, players are human beings and have been away for the whole of last week.

"When you have an away game, it can happen that you are caught for 20 or 30 minutes.

"But I know my squad is good, my team is good, our spirit is good. We are intelligent enough to know we did not play well, but we know as well we have the needed quality to respond.

"Your desire is to play well and win. No matter how much experience you have, if you don't play well you have more chances to lose than to win."

User Comments

27

str8goon

Posted on 30 Aug, 2008 at 03:06 AM - Reply

Look we can all agree that not only Wenger but ARSENAL need another player....or two....however many. But the point is WE NEED someone in our defensive midfield position to come in blend in with our football and our leauge so Cesc can do his job with little distraction. Just imagine if someone of Sagna's quality and seemless transition came in who could do the job and do it well. One can only hope...one can only pray.

26

R Prabu

Posted on 29 Aug, 2008 at 03:22 AM - Reply

AW,what we lack are:
Consistent development;
Cohesive management &
Creative thrust.

Your actions continue to be not focussed.
Glad if you prove us wrong with ANY trophy this year and finish in top 4.

25

john quinn

Posted on 28 Aug, 2008 at 09:16 PM - Reply

I am very shocked to read these negative comments - especially about Mr Wenger - Please note this man knows what he is doing . Arsenal have the best manager in the world at the moment and have had for quite some time ..... Yes this may well be a slow process ....People make me laugh ..they say we have done nothing in the last few years since winning the F.A Cup in 2005...... but wait were we not in the champions league final in 2006... were we not in the carling cup final in 2007 and did we not just miss out on winning the league in 2008 ...All this and Champions league football every single season ....and all this again whilst reshaping the entire team on a very modest budget because Mr Wenger has standards and principles ... he is the moral soul of this club ..... he has started something very special at arsenal ..... watch and learn as he brings it all to a glorious conclusion

24

Arsene Trava

Posted on 28 Aug, 2008 at 06:24 PM - Reply

Wow. Who are some of you people? A few games into the season, we drop 3 points at Fulham and you're calling for Wenger's head???

I can only assume that many of you are younger Gooners (I am 25) and don't remember/know what it was like before Le Boss.

How many of you could name the manager before him?

The trophies will come, you cannot play beautiful football forever without success, this team will bring many trophies. Have faith! To put things in perspective, the last 10/12 years has been the greatest time in the long history of our club. Arsenal has gone for decades without any success like Wenger has brought. 2 Doubles and a European Cup Final in the last 10 years alone. The man should have the job for life, if he deigns to stay with us.

Arsene Knows!

23

Shut up

Posted on 28 Aug, 2008 at 12:19 PM - Reply

What the hell do any of you lot know. Wenger is the PROVEN BEST manager in the prem excluding Ferguson. I'm sick of these so called fans slagging him off. I've been a fan for 27 years now and its 'fair weather' fans like you lot who annoy me. The team may not be hitting its full potential but we're 2 games in FFS. United won 1 of their first four last season - look where they ended up. Mugs like you lot were askin fergie to resign. If Wenger listened to any of you chimps we'd be where spurs are.
Do us all a favour and shut up.

22

Don

Posted on 28 Aug, 2008 at 08:26 AM - Reply

We are two games three games into a long season. Won 2, lost 1. And already some of the Arsenal 'faithful' have lost faith with Le Prof....bemoaning the fact that we have not spent loads of moolah in the transfer window (which has not yet closed).....yet seeming to forget that Arsenal (never mind Arsene Wenger) have NEVER spent loads in the transfer market. It's endemically woven into the fabric of our business dealings. It is unlikely to change.

We need one more player...a defensive midfielder. I'd personally be staggered if Wenger doesn't sign someone before close of play nesxt week but yet still I think we are a million miles from calling into question the managerial abilities of the master tactician that is Wenger.

Give the guy a break please (anyone remember back in the early 80's when we were potless for what seemed like an eternity??). A little more patience is in order.

21

nick

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 11:35 PM - Reply

I have had enough of wenger, and his stupid excuses, he has lost the plot, he lost it last year, he cant see anything now!! we need a new manager, i can see it going to be a struggle to finish 4th this year, other teams have moved forward,we badly need some class experienced, players, after those needless beatings we took from our closest rivals last year.

20

tigercore

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 11:16 PM - Reply

you are talking sense there mate we need to stop messing about with this youth policy crap get the readys out and buy some top quality players not losers on there last legs.

19

Namana Simon

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 08:54 PM - Reply

Dear Funs
All of us joined Arsenal because of the speed and quality of game they could play.I do not see this now.

Wenger and every one else should accept that Arsenal is honestly fading off.

The only solution is to field in experienced players who are also physically strong.

Honestly speaking,Wenger should never hide the weakness that the world now sees.

We should also accept that the decision of selling Henry,Vieira,Pires and the rest was a mistake

The quality of players leaving Arsenal and those coming in are not the same.

Mr.proud Wenger,please listen to the cry of the funs.Our patiance is running out

18

Babatunde

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 07:13 PM - Reply

It seems the media and pundits have convinced all others except die-hard Arsenal fans like myself that the only way to win anything is to buy big. People do not seem to have learnt anything from the past season.

At the beginning a picture of doom was painted because there were no big name players in the Arsenal squad, now from that same squad Hleb has gone to Barca, Flamini to AC and Senderos to AC (this is without counting the various other members of that squad who were also targets of other big clubs such as Fabregas and Adebayor).

The no name players have suddenly become big names due to their performance in the past season while the roll call of big-name flops (by flop, I mean not winning any silverware) is almost endless (Sheva and Ballack at Chelsea, Henry and Ronnie at Barca, Torres at Liverpool, Kaka et al at AC) and this is the gospel Arsene preaches that the worth of a player is not in the amount he is valued at present but his ability and commitment on the green grass.

Arsene is all about getting sustainable results in the right way within reasonable means, the faint hearted and fair-weather fans as well as the armchair and Fantasy Football managers are already calling for his head but Arsene has the backing of the Board because they see the big picture.

I look forward to the season with much anticipation as to what The Professor has for us, I'm looking forward to seeing this season's surprise package (wonderkid/overachiever) a la Adebayor and Hleb last season (Wilshere has staked an early claim but Vela looks promisin and I haven't given up on Bendtner yet), I'm looking forward to another big European scalp a la AC Milan(Away)last season preferably in the final of the UCL, I'm looking forward to our having a better injury situation so that we can see more of Rosicky, RVP and Eduardo, I'm looking forward to our having less refreeing decisions going against us and most of all, I'm looking forward to us doing that quadruple that eluded Mourinho.

I'm looking forward to all these because despite what the pundits and the media say, I know we do have a good squad and most of all because in Arsene I trust.

17

mormegil

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 07:02 PM - Reply

It is clear now that the Arsenal we love has been turned into a side whose only goal every year is just to qualify for champions league football. It's our major source of income and the whole financial deal behind the stadium banks heavily on it. Do not be fooled into thinking we are challenging for honours. Far from it. The board is obviously contented with what we have achieved in our previous seasons. You know, being supposed 'title challengers' and all. Clearly Arsene Wenger is under no pressure whatsoever to win anything. As long as we can secure CL football year in, year out and maintain a healthy finance at the end of each season, he's considered to have done his job successfully. All the bullshit from the club saying we have ambition is just to blind us from the real truth.

16

sherif

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 06:13 PM - Reply

I have never seen such a blatant disregard to what fans think, wenger is way over his head and he thinks the fans have no knowledge of foot ball or how the club is operated whatsoever ...he better start listening to the fans who pay their hard earned money so that they could be entertained or it is about to go ...and no the club is bigger that him even though it might not seem like that at times

15

sketches

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 02:44 PM - Reply

a gunner 4ever, but wenger should put the urge for early goals we want carlos vela in action paired up with adebayor van persie and nasri on the flanks walcott should be introduced as subtitute. wenger should improve on buying players cos fans are really getting out of patience. up the gunners make us proud this season wenger!

14

edward

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 01:51 PM - Reply

utter rubbish wenger. give us the league and stop citing statistics. we are tired of your excuses.

13

Mat S

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 01:44 PM - Reply

Its true that the 'top' players (incidentally, the top players who have yet to win us a single trophty in four years of trying) will leave if the siutation doesn't improve this season. Its all well and good citing the 'spirit' of our squad and saying he has faith in them, but what about the fans? Don't the fans deserve to see that the club and the management are doing everything possible to bring success to Arsenal Football Club? All we seem to get is this repeated 'our team has spirit' rubbish after every match where we limp to a defeat against supposedly inferior opposition. Spirit is all well and good, but the fans like us see nothing of this spirit when you have players pulling in different directions and a captain who blames everyone else except himself when goals fly into the back of our net. Enough excuses Arsenal, get it sorted and get in some players who can do the job, or get someone in who can. Sod the Emirates, no-one asked for this mega stadium that appears to have broken our back as a footballing force. It seems like the boards' wishes to turn the club into a worldwide plc have put paid to our hopes of ever seeing anything like a team capable of challenging for top honours. Anyone who believes that the clubs 'policy' is to favour youth is for footballing reasons is kidding themselves. Its propaganda perpetuated by the board as an excuse for slamming the chequebook shut, not paying top wages and transfer fees, and attempting to balance the books after the gargantuan expense of relocating to the Emirates. I for one am sick to death of these excuses and damned well demand to see some kind of pro-active action taken to stop the rot in our beloved club before we end up floundering around and scrapping for UEFA Cup spots with players like Eboue and Denilson.

12

David

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 12:53 PM - Reply

Don't ever listen to Wenger anymore, coz he has lost it! We've been tired of his lies and talking shiit about his belief in his young squad. I can see that Fabregas, RVP, Clichy are leaving as early as Jan 2009. TRUST ME! I am very upset and hopeless that we are going to see out another heartbreaking season. Four years now, and still counting...

11

Gooner Get Ya

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 12:47 PM - Reply

That's a fair comment..players/teams do have bad games but we can not afford to have any more...we lost out by 4pts last season and that is 3pts dropped already.

We have a lot of players to come back from injury so I can understand that Wenger has faith in the squad...but our 1st 11 against Fulham was not strong enough to compete in midfield. We need decent backup players so when injuries occur we can still compete with the best teams and win convincingly against the likes of Fulham.

We need a reliable, experienced, ball winner that plays it simple and can cope pressure...but who?? I am sure Mr Wenger has his scouts on the case.

10

Deen

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 12:35 PM - Reply

Its a big day for all Arsenal fans. Lets not be too much of critics all the time. Sanderos has been our biggest liability for long now, anytime he is on the field you are sure we are going to give a goal out. A loan move to Italy will do very good for him. I hope he comes back a better player, but if he decides to stay I say good luck. Djourou and Song have matured enough to earn a first team place, its time we give them the chance they deserve. We have quite a number of central defense combination, even though Gallas has been a liability lately. Kolo has been playing out of position for long now, I dont think we have been giving him a fair assessment recently. If we can see a conbination of Kolo/Djourou or Kolo/Song, then we can give a fair assessment of him. We just need Alonso in the team and in my opinion we are complete and can challenge for all honors. I choose Alonso over Barry and Ilner because of his creativity incase we are going to play without Fabregas, which is very likely to happen again in the season.

9

NWAMGBOWO IK

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 11:44 AM - Reply

WE SHOULD LEARN HOW TO KEEP THE GAME IN OUR FAVOUR BY GRABBING EARLY GOALS.WENGER SHOULD MAKE OUR PLAYERS TO BE MORE HUNGRY FOR GOALS. GOONER 4EVA.

8

simon

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 11:35 AM - Reply

lets be realistic, Walcott was very pour the majority of last season, Heleb and Flamini were excellent,

Wenger won't be buying a world class midfielder he let flamini go because he couldn't afford to pay him the going rate, so he hasn't got the funds to pay a transfer fee on top of decent wages, this year will be difficult

7

speedie

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 10:57 AM - Reply

if we dont win anything this season then i be happy to see him leave tats how much i want us to win.

6

Jay

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 10:22 AM - Reply

there are two problems we can cope with which are the right hand side of midfield and central defence, neither of these positions are our best but we could still do very well the way things are now.
But for that to happen we need someone else in the centre of midfield, you cannot rely on one great central midfield player when all you have to play alongside him is promising kids and Diaby.
If Fabregas gets a serious injury we could spend some of the season behind the spuds which is unforgivable

5

elias

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 10:11 AM - Reply

Wenger is the problem for the failer of arsenal. he just bring his crap excuse when arsenal looses. it lucky arsenal finish mid table this season or relegation..the way things are....this arsenal team is not copatable with man united , liverpool or chelse.Wenger will loose the good players soon.he is not doing any good for the team. i am very sad arsenal fun.

4

bozdo

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 10:02 AM - Reply

Wenger is a smart and itelligent person and I'm sure he and the team will find a way to attack the 1st place and the champions league.Maybe he needs to sign with a world class player but the decision is his and no other's.I will support him and the team whatever they do.

3

Dave

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 09:14 AM - Reply

So dont buy anyone, and we finish off potless again, cheers Wenger

2

bobz

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 08:50 AM - Reply

Ok fair enough, but we still need 1 more in the midfield, and we should be challenging on all 4 fronts this season.

if not, i will cry.

1

exodus

Posted on 27 Aug, 2008 at 08:48 AM - Reply

Wenger should stop gumbling with players every season. funs we are tired of his simular excuses everyday, if hes has money then why dont he buy world clss players to compete with other big clubs.if it continues like this then arsenal will still loose their remaining good players.