Wenger reveals the emotional trials of management

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
26 Oct	4:00 PM	P	West Ham United (A)	2	0	Win

Manager Arsène Wenger has revealed that the toughest times of management are when he has have to let certain players go.

The Frenchman will come face-to-face with one of his former charges when the Gunners travel to West Ham on Sunday.

Matthew Upson was deemed surplus to requirements in 2003 and was allowed to leave, despite Wenger trying to persuade him to stay and fight for his place at the club.

Wenger said: "It's harder to tell a player who has battled for you for so many years that his time has come. Nobody likes to hear that.

"You say to a young player, 'Listen, you will not play here, it is better if you go somewhere else,' and he still has the hope to do it. The end of something is more difficult.

"I've had a few tough [decisions]," he added. "I think the next one is always the toughest because the rest you forget.

"I have enough experience now to know that in life what is most important is to try and make the right decisions. People need to feel that you do it because you think it is right.

"Upson is one of the players that I would have loved to hang on to.

"If you take the players in the Premier League who have been educated here there are plenty of them. Steve Sidwell, David Bentley, Fabrice Muamba, Matthew Upson ... but at some stage if you don't play them you have to let them go.

"What is important is that they make a career. Upson has made a fantastic career and I knew he was at the age where I had to give it to him or let him go.

"I felt he had, for a very tall guy, quick feet, good pace, a good left foot, a good long ball and he was good in the air. For a centre back that is not bad. He was good on the ball and that is why I am not surprised he has made a good career."

User Comments

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea