Arsene Wenger spoke to Sky Sports after today’s dismal 2-0 defeat to Sp*rs at White Hart Lane.
Here’s how the interview went.
Did Sp*rs deserve it?
Yes, overall they deserved it yes.
Why?
I felt because they scored two goals and we didn’t, and I felt that it was an even game until they scored the first goal. Then straight away we conceded a penalty, it was 2-0 and you could see that mentally we were affected by that and from then on Sp*rs looked more dangerous.
As long as you don’t come back to 2-1, they’re comfortable and we didn’t manage to score.
Did Arsenal create enough?
No, not to my taste no, but that’s down to Spurs as well. They were sharper than us physically, we had problems to play. We were a bit too restricted in our game and didn’t play with enough freedom.
Why was that?
Because at the moment we’re not completely back to the level of confidence you need to play with freedom, and the players realised it’s a big game, and the two together do that.
Did Arsenal work hard enough?
That’s a question that’s always difficult to answer straight away after tyhe game, it’s not a lack of desire, it’s the fact you play with more freedom, to want the ball, that we lacked today.
This is the first time under you Spurs have finished above Arsenal.
Well done to them, when you start a league, the target is not to finish above Spurs it’s to win the championship so the disappointment for us is not to be in the fight at this part of the season. To fight for the championship.
Are you worried?
Look, in 20 years it happened once. Mathematically it has to happen once, we’re not happy with it, but it’s not to compare us to Spurs, it’s to compare us to where we want to be, and let’s fight until the end and come to conclusions compared to Spurs today.
The interviewer then attempted to ask another question, but the Arsenal manager clearly was not in the mood.
Arsene Wenger not having one more question from the Sky fella pic.twitter.com/wwyJyay3Qb
— arseblog (@arseblog) April 30, 2017
“I felt because they scored 2 goals and we didn’t”. The smart-arse responses are fun when we’re on a good run. Makes him look like a complete see you next tuesday during these kind of periods though.
mentality , confidence , physically sharp……only things i hear when wenger talks , is that the only thing manager should be working at . never have i ever heard wenger talk anything really tactical about the games, every time i have to hear this load of bull***.
“I felt that it was an even game until they scored the first goal” talk about delusion….if it werent for their finishing the game would’ve been well and truly over before halftime. never did i saw arsenal create a single decent chance throughout the entire match.
freedom, freedom, freedom…
I’m just wondering, but how can you play with ‘freedom’ when you know the methodology is fucked?
Simply playing with ‘freedom’ has never been enough to get results. You always need a sound/appropriate tactical approach as well – and whatever that is, we clearly don’t have it anymore. 10-15 years ago yes we had it, but not anymore.
So maybe when we sort that out we can then start playing with some fucking freedom? Just a thought.
I don’t think we did have it 15 years ago. We just had a better team than everyone else.
I dont know, but yesterday before the first goal, l saw the team working hard, tried to impose themselves, tried to be physical, something different than the way we usually play. But yes, we were not in our optimal selves, we were not as fluent and confident as we can be. On top of that, the spuls were really up to it and they are in par with us in technical aspect this time, have been since poch took over me thinks. All and all, l think its better we lose in the long run so we can really overhaul… Read more »
Actually, that’ll be a see us next thursdays. 😉
No doubt Spuds were sharper. That’s the problem!
Let go Arsene. For your health, your reputation and our club. Give it up man, it’s over.
I thought spuds were round…
When we went 1-0 down I still thought we could come back and then 30 seconds later and Gab gives away a pen (and we of course knew Cech wouldn’t save it). When you’re 2-0 down you should be piling on the pressure but we still couldn’t string two passes together and all we did was foul and run around like headless chickens. One of our poorest performances this season.
Didn’t help that we took off one of our best passers as well!
One of our poorest performances of the season. How many times have we typed that?
41 year old Klitchko showed greater fight and passion last night than we did today.
The manager needs to examine the reasons for this.
He needs to examine if he finally realises that it’s over for him for the benefit of the club which he loves so much and nust let go…
How did they even get the ball to our box so soon after the first goal?
I don’t want to debate the bigger picture here; I mostly agree with what people are saying. But I think the fans and the players both deserve that we are careful not to make things up (maybe the political situation has made me more sensitive to this issue). So, I hear a lot about Gabriel’s naivete, and how yes, Kane made the most of it, but Gabriel should know better. No, I don’t think so–it was an absolute dive, well-done in the sense that it was almost impossible for the referee to see, but I don’t know how a defender… Read more »
And who is to blame for this shitfest arsene?…..
I’m not particularly angry, but the prevailing thought in my mind is that we are going to do nothing to change this trajectory. We are in total stasis with no light at the end of this tunnel!
Stasis would suggest we are doing the same as previously. I think this season is worse than those before it
Exactly. Regression, devolution etc. Not stasis.
I feel like he knows he has to admit signing a contract and is desperately avoiding the subject like a schoolboy who hasn’t done his homework in the hope that the bell will ring before the teacher asks him for it
i just cant understand what possible justification can he give after he signs the extension , its just getting worse.at the beginning of every season we hear wenger saying we are gonna challenge for the title and every year we are drifting further and further away from it . i cant understand if he is this stupid to understand this simple fact , if he is not he will definitely not sign the extension
Did we lose because we constantly don’t have ‘freedom’ or is it because most of our players don’t have the necessary tactics to know what to do with or without the ball?
And we have been shit at pressing for far too long
Did Tottenham win because they were playing with “freedom”? No it’s because they had clear and implemented tactics and game plan. These vagueries Wenger talks about are so bullshit and just an attempt to deflect blame
I’m going to be voting with my fckn feet. My season ticket for next year is going back tomorrow and every game until the end of this seasonI’m going to be singin “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” vote me down as much as you like but I’ve had enough of this shit. This team has let me down badly. I’ll always love the Arse but I ain’t dumb enough to keep payin for this bollox
I hope you walk away from the club at the end of the season. Stop defending this guy. Look at spuds squad and look at ours…they have a weaker squad and yet Pochettino has managed to make them challenge for the league in 2 years. Wenger needs to leave. Tired of his lame excuses. Buys Xhaka and has absolutely no idea how to use him. WENGER OUT!!!
There was a lot of talk about how “even” the squads are. So much bollocks. Aside from the mouth breather and Erikson, I dont see their players competing with our on a skill basis
You are living in a dreamland thinking Arsenal have a stronger and more skillful squad. Wake up and smell the coffee. Take Sanchez out and you are left with an spineless, weak team with no fight, leadership or guile. I’m not saying there is a “poweshift” but fans need to realise that they have been off the boil for a while and an FA cup final is a convenient mask for what has been a hugely disappointing season for Arsenal. Spurs have been set up top to bottom far better than you over the last 12-24 months and it’ll take… Read more »
They were way better last year that’s why they finished below us.
I don’t think the problem is technical, it’s a mental problem
Alli for the whole season has been better than our marquee and most expensive player (who went missing in a big away game again) Which of our midfielders is better than Dembele, who started on the bench? Ramsey? We were linked to Wanyama, but Wenger doesn’t like big DMs anymore. Is Coquelin better than Wanyama? Walker has been better than Bellerin all season. Rose is a better LB option than our options. Lloris is the top 3 best keepers in the league, Kane (former Arsenal academy product) has been better than all our striking option COMBINED (bar Sanchez, who Wenger… Read more »
Well said on all points. Credit where credit is due, they have outdone us and we have a hard task in front of us to reach that level – can’t see it obviously in the next 2 years as Arsene’s delusion continues…
In addition, I couldn’t believe we didn’t go for Lloris when he was available, Vertonghen – amazing, highly skilled ball playing CB, Alderweireld was very cheap as well.. And they had strong, tall DMs (Sandro, Capoue) when we thought Arteta is a great solution for DM position. Also, Modric, maaan… We should’ve gone for him.
Arsene, so many missed chances there.
Sandro, capoue, are you off your head? The biggest problems at arsenal are the manager, the CEO and the chairman. The key indicator of this is that Sanchez and Ozil and all our international players look far better when they play with their national team. Look at what conte has brought to Chelsea this year
Yes they are (the biggest problems) but at the same time I am saying that they (spuds) did not reinvent the wheel by overcomplicating stuff, when they had good DMs we had none, and I thought it would have helped our case at that time, among so many strange and illogical stuff that Wenger did in the last 5 or so years… You can add not buying Higuain etc. It is possible to mention things like that and still acknowlegde the problems we have at the moment. And resorting to insults like you did just shows how classy you are.… Read more »
We went for Vertonghen but the Boss told him he would be a DM instead of CB and he chose Spurs. Not sure why Wenger wanted to do that when we needed a CB but there you go. Eriksen was linked to us for four years before he went to Spurs. Makes me sad.
Nonsense. In terms of ability, WE HAVE A BETTER SQUAD. Pochettino would reach the semi with our squad. This squad (though unbalanced) is not as bad as people are saying it is. The system doesn’t suit everyone. That’s the truth. Again, I do not believe this nonsense of having a weak squad. It’s just unbalanced.
We have a really good squad but they have one too. We have our world class players in Ozil and Sanchez (who are obviously so detached from the club for the last 3 months that it hurts and that is also fully on Wenger) but some of their players are not far from being “WC”. Eriksen, Kane, Alli, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Lloris… I’d say we’re equal or very close. But yes, Pochettino plays them to their potential while Wenger can’t take the maximum out of his squad for many seasons.
I’ll never walk away from the Arse but I WILL walk away from these losers who ain’t got any pride at all.
Exactly… Me neither, Arsenal til I die but what has Wenger done out of this club is beyond words.. We are a laughing stock at the moment.
what are you trippin on? we played the same formation as them today. how do you justify they have weaker squad? lol do you not watch the actual games?
“Spurs were sharper than us”
Tell us something we don’t know. It’s just so painful to watch a legend make a mockery of himself year after year.
He’s had more money available than ever before but he’s overseen the biggest decline the club has seen since he arrived. No excuses. Time for a new manager to be given a chance.
When we win, ‘they showed mental strength’. ‘When we lose they lacked mental strength’ . Come on, make up your blooming mind Arsene.
One thing that really pisses me off is it seems like the players are only training passes to foot and not into spaces, so when someone is doing a run, especially annoying in the final third, the pass always ends up behind the player and the one who did the pass is like what the fuck just happened.
I guess they wanted it more. We haven’t wanted it at all for a few years now. The richer this club gets, the worse it’s football is… Strange, because when each of these players, plays for his national team, he is way better. What could be different in our club so that the sum of all parts is lower than the whole.
9 defeats in 33 league games. Problem is, Arsene, that too many teams are sharper than us on too many occasions. Spotted a pattern emerging…?
At the post match interview WENGER was asked if the team LACKED DESIRE,, and he said ER NO I DON’T THINK SO,, really, fuck me is he blind,, I no he always defends the team but ya just can’t not when we pm poor, perhaps if he said some home truths on tv it might give the team a kick up the ass,but at end of the day half the team aint good enough, and if wenger REALLY REALLY believes the team didn’t lack desire and he’s here next season we’re in big trouble
Kroenke out. Wenger out. Half the team out. Sort this shit out
#wengeroutNOW
Something must of happened with the players and wenger. We have been so poor for so many games it’s scary. It doesn’t seem to matter who’s playing or the formation, were like one goal or mistake away from crumbling, can’t defend and can’t create. maybe that 10-2 hammering effected the team more than we think, mixed with to many injuries as usual…not worried about the unknown if wenger leaves, it’s the continuation of this crap that fills me with sadness.
Spurs looked sharper and more confident at the moment bottom line. We had enough men to defend their first goal but again were caught ball watching. Thought Gibbs starting was a mistake. Not that he was particularly poor but we needed to add something going forward. They were way more threatening and had more shots on target than us. I felt we should have started Ox on the left in lieu of Gibbs and had Bellerin on other flank. Also questionable to start Giroud when we know Spurs will come at us and cede space at the back. We don’t… Read more »
As far as St Totteringham’s day is concern, they are welcome to a day in the sunshine. Its been 22 years under Wenger’s cosh and they’ve finished above us once and won two league cups. We should mind the fact they are closing the gap but I think the media should also mind the gap in the trophy cabinet between them and us since Wenger took charge. That said, we need to improve because over last 5 seasons, they have been closing. I feel we lack enough technical players at the moment to add the advantage. Kudos to Spurs though.… Read more »
The gunners were out tackled in 50/50 challenges. Why?Size wise in certain situations,the spuds towered physically over the gunners. This is due to the FM’s policy of buying technical players.Instsead of Gabriel he could have got another cd with epl experience and there are many around. Tactically he is a dinosaur. The gunners buildup based on short passess take an age to get to the enemy box. And when the attack breaks down,you know I know and every fan and manager know except Wenger, is the cue for Spurs to surge forward at breakneck speed. .Mc were denied a legitimate… Read more »
https://sports.bwin.com/en/news/football-betting/robert-pires-interview,126153.html Worth reading Pires article. 1) He’s in the set up at the moment. 2)As I’ve mentioned, Wenger will likely (if he wants it) shoe into the France job. I mentioned we may see a year transition and await post 2018 Wcup where there will be a managerial reshuffle. 3) Mbappe. I think he may be overpriced but clearly he is someone who can benefit from Wenger. 4) FA cup. Again Pires is telling YOU that the 4th spot trophy is worth more (…but the cup is still more than anything Spurs have won in Wenger’s tenure…and he’s won 6)… Read more »
I hate everything this club has become I hate it that I now loath our most successful manager because he has not only jeopardised this season but probably our future.
Sp*urs have been sharp all season, everybody knows, yet AW can do nothing about it and we got smacked by 2 goals to nothing. Helplessly beaten up…
They were sharper + a player saying they wanted it more in a previous game shows he has lost it. Love the man but he just doesn’t have it or this squad anymore. One is a lot easier to fix it
They were better than us. Have been all season.
What’s more (and I hate to say and think it), there stadium is shaping up to be better than ours too.
Time for someone – who? – to get the RMS Arsenal back on track and quickly.
See how mad they’ve got me?!!! *their
Ducking ducks.
‘It’s not to compare us to spurs, but to where we want to be.’ In other words ‘if we finish where we want to finish, we can still be happy’ – and therein lies the reason why we, the fans, cannot be happy – because for him, finishing in a position which we can still reach, is enough. He will be happy with fourth and the Cup. I won’t be happy unless we can challenge for titles, and we are a very long way off that. I can’t be happy when it’s obvious that Spurs are so much better than… Read more »
No way they worked hard but it was to their capacity which allowed spurs move freely and score goals and he needs to offload the likes of Ramsey, giroud,monreal,jinkleson,etc add up £200 million they talked about buy names Aubeumag emerrrick,lacazate who has long term target,Virgil etc to atleast compete in favourable.
I wonder how he feels when the entire stadium sings ‘Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay’ at White Hart Lane. He’s a running joke.
I’ll tell you what is most telling. I didn’t really feel anything by this – I’m completely nonplussed.
Our identity used to be a team of winners. Not being hurt or surprised by this makes it perfectly clear that a good part of the legacy Arsene will leave at this club is an identity of perennial and oh-so-predictable failures.
I don’t even care anymore.