Advertisement
Daniel Hambury/EMPICS Sport

Arsenal fans are brainwashed to be negative, says Wenger

So, it’s not because of that lagging jacket then?

ARSENE WENGER BELIEVES Arsenal fans have been “brainwashed” by the constant negativity surrounding his team.

Wenger came under fire from large sections of the Emirates Stadium crowd following Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.

That barrage of abuse followed several incidents of barracking from angry fans last season as Arsenal’s trophy drought stretched to eight years.

But Gunners boss Wenger, whose side have calmed the critics with successive victories over Fenerbahce and Fulham since that Villa loss, is convinced the occasionally poisonous atmosphere in north London is due to fans letting their emotions get the better of them after reading so many negative stories about the club.

“It’s always excessive reactions,” Wenger said. “We lost one game since the beginning of March. That’s why it (the Villa loss) was a shock.

“The defeat was a shock, because it’s the first game of the season.

“We won in the Champions League away at Bayern (Munich, in March), we won 3-0 at Fenerbahce.

“It’s just like that at the moment. You (the media) have brainwashed a little bit the Emirates.

“Maybe rightly so, because we haven’t won trophies for years; everything is always negative.

“We have to live this out and just play football well.”

The Frenchman has been in charge at Arsenal since October 1996 and is now the top flight’s longest serving manager following Alex Ferguson’s retirement from Manchester United last season.

But Wenger, who has turned down a host of offers to leave Arsenal during his reign, believes society in general, and football in particular, has become more reactionary and less likely to show loyalty during difficult times.

“On one side when people are not loyal, people criticise; when they are loyal, they say they are there for too long,” he said.

“It’s always an excessive reaction and that’s why people in charge have to take a (step back), more than ever.

“Being responsible in life is to do things you think are right, it’s not to react to what people say.

“If you listen always to what people say, you go five minutes one way and 10 minutes later you go the other way.

“When you have responsibilities you have just to focus on making the right decisions and if they’re not right, you say ‘sorry, I’m wrong’. When we lose a game, I’m wrong.”

- © AFP, 2013

Andy Keogh hits out at Trap loyalty on Twitter

Long can play for a big club, but he must be guaranteed games – Trapattoni

Author
View 5 comments
Close
5 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoghan Duignan
    Favourite Eoghan Duignan
    Report
    Aug 26th 2013, 1:41 PM

    I’m a big fan of arsene wenger but I think the fans are probably negative with the lack of real success and the occasional lack of ambition shown by the club. Any decent player they have they seem to sell. And to direct rivals aswell. For example liverpool said absolutely no way to selling there star striker to a direct rival in arsenal. I think man united did the same thing with heinze a few years back aswell, didn’t want to sell to a rival like Liverpool and he ended up going abroad.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Jones
    Favourite Martin Jones
    Report
    Aug 26th 2013, 4:50 PM

    Wenger will try to do just enough to finish 4th yet again, he’s not interested in challenging for honours. Maybe he’ll get lucky and bag a cup, maybe he’ll be unlucky and finish 5th. Either way we’ll hear the same old lies year in year out until he goes, which with Silent Stan in charge wont be until the stadium is half empty.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gavin Doyle
    Favourite Gavin Doyle
    Report
    Aug 26th 2013, 3:43 PM

    I think maybe it has to do with the fans not knowing exactly what is happening at the club it is all hush hush and know one knows what exactly is going on who is coming or going it is too closed off to the public at times ya would swear it was the secret service the way some of these clubs operate .A straight answer to a question would be nice. I’m not just pointing this at arsenal .nearly all clubs are the same .

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack O'Donnell
    Favourite Jack O'Donnell
    Report
    Aug 26th 2013, 5:09 PM

    Since wenger has a year on his contract the board should say right here’s 70mil do whatever you want with it but just finish top 4 and win a trophy

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack O'Donnell
    Favourite Jack O'Donnell
    Report
    Aug 26th 2013, 5:09 PM

    Or you’ll be out of a job

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.