Arsene Wenger lambasted his players for their casual performance as Arsenal lost 2-1 to Östersunds FK at the Emirates last night, but insisted there was nothing wrong with the way he prepared his team for the game.
The Gunners were casual all night long, and the Swedish side deserved their victory, although the 3-0 win from the first leg and a Sead Kolasinac goal was enough to see Wenger’s men through to the Europa League Round of 16.
Yet the manager’s message after the game was inconsistent with what we saw on the pitch, a team that is properly prepared doesn’t take the opposition for granted, whatever level they’re at, and ultimately that’s his job.
Speaking afterwards, he said, “We were not at the races in the first half. I think in the second half it was much better and we should have scored a few goals. Our energy was higher, our domination was consistent and we were in control in the second half.
In the first half we were in trouble and in danger because we were complacent, not focused and were open every time we lost the ball. We had no ideas with the ball and that’s why we were in trouble.”
And yet, Wenger insisted his team should have been ready based on what they’d done pre-game.
“We prepared properly and in a serious way, but you have external circumstances such as the fact we won 3-0, the fact that we have another big game on Sunday, the fact that people subconsciously think you just have to turn up to win the game,” he said.
“Football doesn’t work like that. We played against a good side and it’s what you see in the FA Cup.
“Against all teams, you can be in trouble every time you’re not 100 per cent focused.”
The question is why weren’t the team focused, and also why we could do so little about it despite harsh words at half-time?
Arsenal will discover their Round of 16 opponents at noon today, and the potential list of teams we’ll face is right here.
He’s bred this culture and hides behind the players when it gets exposed.
Man has no shame
“Hides behind his players”? Really. Actually, the man has a reputation for defending his players publicly even after objectively poor results, and regularly takes the brunt of the criticism (he is the manager after all) even when individual mistakes are really to blame. It’s high time he stood up for himself after some of his players put in a shocking performance. The dismay at the the defeat is understandable. However, bar one or two exceptions, that was the same second XI that has underwhelmed all season in the Europa League. Some of those players last night won’t see another minute… Read more »
I love you Arsenal… i love my wife, but that doesn’t mean i cant call her a dicksplash when she is acting like one! I for one wont be shocked, when we get knocked out next round. Don’t know what’s happened to us, Shambolic.
Have said that Wenger doens’t know what a good defense is and will say it again. Having said that this horrid showing could be a blessing in disguise as on Sunday, the team will be more attentive after this horrid showing.
your right, he doesn,t, if he had any sense he would of tried to sign van dijk and laporte, but he didn,t even bother, he has no interest in the defence
Mustafi is good enough. He is not getting proper coaching.
I agree this poor excuse for a defense falls on Wenger. And what about Bould, what is his role? They should just put a cardboard cutout next to Wenger. That might be more animated. At least when the wind catches it. If the city game opens up we are in real trouble. They could easily score 4 or 5.
or more complacent as they will expect to be more focussed and take their collective foot off the gas
I’m afraid it will be similar to the recent spu*s game, he will defend with the whole team (including ozil and mkhi) and auba will be left isolated..in the end the defence will crack.. And we’ll be hoping that city score as few goals as possible to spare us the embarrassment.. But let’s hope I’m wrong and wenger surprise us with an attacking attractive football and a win since we’re hoping Side note: this season’s team must be the most boring arsenal team i have ever witnessed , sometimes I even question if football is their occupation (they do for… Read more »
Yeah, you shouldn’t be calling your wife a dicksplash.. long before you get to that level of verbal abuse you should have either sought counselling or dissolved the marriage.
Hear, hear.
6 losses in Europe in a row at the knockout stage – at home!
Crazy record.
Part of most Arsenal’s fans mentality will be hoping we get Athletico because there’s no chance of us beating them over two legs right now and the season will be finally over when the inevitable happens and we’re knocked out. Surely Wenger will then have to leave the end of the season. Not 100% on that however.
Worst case scenario, In his mind, Wenger might think that getting us to Wembley again means this season is a success. Kroenke will agree.
at this point any europa team not just athletico can beat us easily
Actually yesterday in the half time break I hoped ostersunds will come and score the third and fourth goals and eliminate us because there is absolutely no way wenger will stay as a manager after that, But hey this Arsenal..if he stayed after the (shameful, heart breaking, soul destructive) 8-2 against manchester United why would 4-0 lose make any difference
As time goes by it becomes increasingly evident that Arsenal just don’t prepare properly for any games. Whether that be tactically or mentally. It just looks like they have a bit of a kick about in the week, do some fitness work and then he gets them in the dressing room and just tells them to go out and play football on the weekend.
i wont be surprised if this turns out to be true
Selling all your top scorers and signing one forward who is cuptied? Am I the only one who thinks that is shocking? Constantly shaking me head these days with the goings on at our beautiful club. Love ya Arsene but can’t wait for a change now sir. On to Sunday, COYG!!!
I blame the outlandish blue kit.
“the fact that people subconsciously think you just have to turn up to win the game,” ”
People? You mean our players?
If AW was a chemistry teacher he would set the laboratory burning. He always performs dangerous experiments. Why use Welbeck as lone striker?
Calling it complacency is an attempt to disguise the alternate that these players just arent good enough. The manager isnt good enough anymore. We are open Every time we lose the ball EVERY single week. (Apart from after we take a tanking every couple of months and then decide to defend for a game ) honestly cant see them winning this tournament as not even in the second tier of European sides any more. Happy Friday!
I think the root cause of our poor away form and loses is that f****** blue jersey….I hated that jersey from the beginning???
its like a spurs training kit
We won away and lost at home.
I don’t get how people are still being sarcastic this season.. Arsenal is so bad this season it’s painful to be sarcastic about it..
Actually the only thing I find funny is anyone who is still optimistic for this Club under wenger
This team should be forced to watch the entire match with the BT Commentary at full volume. If they hear Robbie Savage sneering at them, jeering them and egging them on to fail- they might get some idea of what its like to be a fan when your team aren’t at the races. Hector Bellerin recently told the oxford crowd that they don’t listen to anyone outside the club. Well how’s that working Hector? When do you guys ever get to the races? All a team has to do is show up and we have a problem. Last night Ostersund… Read more »
“Hector Bellerin recently told the oxford crowd that they don’t listen to anyone outside the club. Well how’s that working Hector?” This is it. This pathetic mentality at Arsenal that they can be sitting 6th in the league not in the champions league, out of the FA Cup, scrapping through in the BoreOPA Cup and act like a group of spoilt kids in the play-ground that say “we don’t care what others think we know we are right” Same as his pathetic attempt to blame Alexis’ uber competitive attitude and high expectations for ruining the harmony of his spoilt brat… Read more »
wenger has lost the respect of the players, a bit like mourinho,s last season at Chelsea, the same thing is happening at arsenal
Bullocks Wenger. Time to retire honorably while you still can. You can’t give what you no longer has.
Always easy for you to say the Manager isn’t good anymore. Always Manager this and manager that.. how old are you by the way? I don`t recall seeing AW on the Pitch playing def or crossing the ball poorly or always heading or shooting directly at the opponents GK or not running hard to track back or giving the ball away cheaply.. Maybe you’re seeing a different version of Football mate.. Perhaps from the future?
Yeah, but if he can’t get the best out of his players then he has failed. If he can find leaders to pick this team up when they are down then he has failed, and by doing the same thing over and over and over and hording a group of guys that like each other over actually having a desperation to win and determination to drive their team forward in big games and tough away nights is complete failure. Wenger WAS a great manager…but his goose is cooked and is now rotting because it was cooked 5+ years ago
Honorably!!!! LOL
Stop joking mate..
It was like this way back. Some of them need a kick up their arse for thinking the tie is already won.
Abysmal…..
Preparation? When trying to function as a team, it’s vital. I’m a musician , and I certainly can draw parallels between football and playing gigs. The first gig was a private bash- all the band were in the same room talking, checking up on possible difficulties,pitfalls, getting the tempo right etc. Fantastic gig- played like demons and enjoyed every minute. Next gig- a club night. All band members turned up at different times, had a few words together,then hastened to keep up with the ‘fan club’ of admirers that turned up to have a great night. Result- we played like… Read more »
think a lot of people are hugely overreacting. we played well enough in the 1st leg to allow us to slightly take the foot of the gas. we were in control and never looked like we would exit out of Europa yesterday. against man city we need to completely scrap even trying to think defensively. City have struggled most this season when teams have attacked them, we need to pressure their defenders like Liverpool did, we will get chances and must be efficient only way we win is high scoring, no chance we sit back defend and nick a 1-0… Read more »
I think you are assuming there were “harsh words at half-time”.
They probably had a cup of tea for all we know.
Wenger doesn’t hide behind his players,on the contrary, he shields them because he is the architect of the way they play, no player dares play against Wenger’s pattern, and that pattern without a strong midfield is becoming obsolete. He even shielded the players again by saying that arsenal was in control in the second half, how! I had hinted in my previous post that arsenal’s problem is managerial. He claimed he prepared his side seriously against ostersunds,every coach says that. With the nightmare display against lowly ostersunds,one may begin to question whether Wenger understands the meaning of ‘serious preparation’ or… Read more »
Just go Wenger.