Watching Arsenal’s manager watch the goalless first leg of a cup semi-final was more interesting than watching the goalless first leg of a league cup semi-finalOf all the indignities foisted on Arsène Wenger during his time in English football, this was perhaps a fresh level of zip-fumbling, hood-gnawing horror. At the end of a room‑temperature semi-final Wenger said he had quite enjoyed his 90 minutes in the Stamford Bridge press box. “You see, you’re well treated, you have nothing to complain about,” he told the gathered journalists, expertly seizing the opportunity to chastise, once again, the people he most enjoys chastising.VAR issues aside – the image of Martin Atkinson fiddling with his ear will live long in the memory –...
The accusation of some kind of premeditated campaign by referees against Arsenal is ludicrous – if Wenger is preparing his team for bad decisions, what does that say about their mindset?There was a classic Arsène Wenger moment on Wednesday as he walked towards the exit door of the media auditorium at the Emirates Stadium. It was put to the Arsenal manager that Jack Wilshere might have been sent off for a second bookable offence during the helter-skelter 2-2 draw with Chelsea – a dive following a challenge from Andreas Christensen.“That would have made you happy,” Wenger countered. Related: Arsène Wenger’s high-wire act exposes hole at heart of Arsenal | Amy Lawrence Related: Refereeing calls have cost the Gunners four points and...
The Gunners manager’s fatal attraction to playing at all costs leaves defence as an afterthought – as highlighted in the 2-2 draw with ChelseaStoppage time provided a vignette of classic latter-Wenger Arsenal. Hearts were in mouths, and nobody knew whether to celebrate or panic or faint. Having taken a lead, then thrown a lead, and then seized back some pride with a last gasp equaliser, Arsenal’s defence evaporated completely as Chelsea almost won it all over again. “Never a dull moment,” muttered one fan to his mate as they shuffled out the stadium having witnessed another night of strangely confusing excitement against a top opponent. Arsène Wenger recently said, albeit tongue in cheek, that he would prefer to play with...
As Frenchman prepares for 811th league game in charge to overhaul Sir Alex Ferguson it will sharpen focus on his legacy and who will eventually succeed himBehold, the age of Arsène. The past few years of Arsène Wenger’s extended Arsenal farewell have brought something new, a gradual piling up of gongs and garlands that have little to do with trophies won or goals scored but speak instead to his extreme, unyielding longevity. Longest-serving Arsenal manager. Longest-serving manager in Europe. As Wenger ticks these marks off like some stately old slugger gamely rounding the bases, tipping his cap to the bleachers, there is a feeling of end times about this.In July Wenger edged past Sir Alex Ferguson as the longest-serving manager...
Arsenal manager trusted his young full-back against the explosive Mohamed Salah and Maitland-Niles can be pleased with his performancePerhaps, in the kind of skewed reading that meetings between Arsenal and Liverpool have come to invite, this fixture was the perfect laboratory for a young full-back making his way.By the time Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 20 years old and making his third Premier League start, left the field he could at least assure himself that nobody would have noticed any ragged edges very much. Related: Roberto Firmino saves point for Liverpool after Arsenal’s crazy five minutes Related: Fab Four sparkle but bend Liverpool out of shape in collapse at Arsenal | Jonathan Wilson Continue reading...