Angry Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is fuming as dismayed fans get the knives out
Arsene Wenger took a fresh swipe at Arsenal's negative fans last night after shareholders quizzed him over yet another season without silverware.
The Frenchman was forced into an impassioned defence of both his record and his players during a stormy question-and-answer session in which defender Mikael Silvestre was branded a 'geriatric'.
Wenger, insisting a run of 21 games unbeaten proved his team's spirit, said: 'We have a young team and we need the supporters to be supportive. It is easy to sit in the stand and say that they are not up for the fight. What they have done in this negative environment shows what they can do, it shows they can stand up to their responsibilities'
Turning on the shareholder who claimed Silvestre was past it, Wenger hit back saying: 'I cannot accept what you say about our players. Are you a shareholder? I cannot accept that you speak about the players of your club like that. I don't agree with the terms you use'.
'There is a massive difference between the away fans, who are absolutely fantastic, and the home ones. It is always that negative way of thinking, that the players do not care. If we do not get there next year then I am responsible and will stand up for it. But what this team needs is people who are fans of the club'.
'Many times people are upset when the players have gone. Some players have good periods or bad periods. If they don’t do well it is because they have lost confidence'.
'But the only way to help a guy who has lost confidence is support him. But by slaughtering him it does not help. We have had negative vibes and manipulation around the team. It is very hard work to keep the confidence and energy demands because we had to support the team against the odds.'
Accusations about Emmanuel Adebayor and Emmanuel Eboue's record of diving were met with rounds of applause while the prospect of the Togo striker leaving in the summer was greeted with cheers of 'hear, hear' from some.
Having said earlier in the day that he would have no problem doing business with other top clubs — including Chelsea — if they came in for Adebayor, Wenger stood up for the striker.
'Adebayor has done fantastically well for the club,' he said. 'All the big clubs wanted him last summer and it will be the same again this summer. Some players have bad periods. If they don't do well it is because they have lost confidence. But the only way to help a guy who has lost confidence is to support him. Slaughtering him it does not help him'.
'One day you will look back at this period and say it is not disastrous. I am not pretentious enough to think I do not make mistakes. But you have to give me one credit.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...nives-out.html
Good to see there are even a few Arsenal fans that are against diving.
