Manager Arsene Wenger fielded questions about his future once more following Arsenal’s defeat to West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.
Travelling to The Hawthorns for Saturday’s encounter, the hosts took the lead after 12 minutes of the first half had been played, but Alexis Sanchez had us back on level terms three minutes later.
Despite utterly dominating possession with almost 80% across both halves, Arsenal could only register two attempts on target across the game and Tony Pulis’s side hit twice in the second half to take a very disappointing three one victory.
Speaking to the Official Site as he met with the media following the game, well you didn’t have to be a genius to know what kinds of questions would feature.
Giving his thoughts on the match itself, he explained.
‘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.’
With set pieces featuring in the goals conceded, Wenger knew it had been a problem on the day and he used the word ‘naive’ at points when it came to our play.
‘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.’
Asked about the attitude and application of the players across the match, he didn’t think they had shown a poor attitude in the game as they tried to win it, it was just one of them we couldn’t get the breakthrough in.
‘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.’
With plane banners featuring in the game.
‘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.’
Wenger was also asked if he felt the fans would unite if a decision on his future was announced.
‘I don`t know. Don`t worry, I know what I will do in my future. You will soon know. Very soon. 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.’
With hopes of the title basically extinguished, he knew the battle was to secure Champions League football for next season and ensure we remained in 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.’
Adding about atmosphere’s during games.
‘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.’
Those looking for Wenger to depart will certainly be looking at the fact we have now lost four out of five Premier League games for the first time since April 1995 according to the BBC.
