Questions about Arsène Wenger’s future have dominated plenty of the manager’s press conferences recently, and he was again asked about the matter following our defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
Here’s what he said.
on the performance…
It was a difficult game, because it a was a typical Premier League game that you see a lot - with a team that has a lot of the ball and a team that defends deep and well, waiting for the counter-attack and set-pieces. West Brom did very well on that. We had 77 per cent of possession but we didn’t create enough chances. I think that’s firstly down to the quality of their defending and their hard work physically.
on conceding goals on set-pieces and if he’ll criticise them…
Our record on defending set-pieces is quite good since the start of the season, but I must say their delivery is absolutely great and we were a bit naive on their movement. I think on the first goal they blocked the keeper as well, and the third. It’s not easy for the keeper to intervene in that kind of situation.
on the attitude of the players…
I think you don’t see any obvious signs of lack of attitude. That’s what people always criticise when you lose a game. I think we took the responsibility to take the game to them, and it didn’t work today. We are certainly a bit short of confidence as well, but I don’t think it’s an attitude problem.
Granit Xhaka in action against West Brom
on the plane banners and if that affects his future…
I watch the game, I do not watch the stands during the game. I believe that you have to live with that. You focus on your job, no matter what people think.
on if supporters will unite if he makes decision on future…
I don’t know. Don’t worry, I know what I will do in my future. You will soon know. Very soon.
on if he’s decided on his future…
You will see. I don’t think today I necessarily worry about that. We are in a unique bad patch that we’ve never had in 20 years. We lose game after game at the moment, and that is for me much more important than my future.
on getting into the top four…
It will be a big fight, I agree with you. It will be very difficult now. Anyway, there’s no other way than by fighting and doing it until the last game of the season. Then, if it’s not good enough, we have to take the consequences. And then maybe one day if we don’t do it, people will enjoy it again to be in there.
on if atmosphere from fans affects his team during a game…
I don’t know. In our job it’s like when you have a problem with your engine - you can always find many problems, but it’s important to find the most important one. I think the most important one today was that we had 77 per cent of possession and didn’t create many chances. We have to focus on that. Fans are a bit disappointed, which I can completely understand. [But that doesn’t] explain why we have not created goal chances.
on if anyone else knows what he will do in the future…
I know what I do.
on if anyone else knows…
No, no, no.
Look out for more quizzes soon
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