Wenger: 'We are frustrated and disappointed'
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
I thought it was an average game at Fulham and, in the end, a fourth place finish is disappointing because three weeks ago we were in a position to win the league.
We are frustrated and disappointed but we should not go overboard. We just have to rectify things in the areas that we need to improve.
We didn't lose third place on Sunday, we lost it last week. Facing a Champions League qualifier is less reassuring than being in the top three, of course, but we have given ourselves the chance to get into the group stage.
I think I am responsible for the results and I am very disappointed. The players have had an outstanding attitude. We have played 58 games but in the decisive moments, we have never had the whole team together. Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, for example, have not played many games.
We will try to do the right thing this summer and we will try to buy the right players. The amount of money is not always linked with the quality of the player but if we find the right players we will spend the money.
Finally, I want to praise you our fans - you have been outstanding all season and gave us incredible support again at Fulham.
You are not happy, I am not happy, and we have to accept that. But we should not go overboard. Even if people say we have to spend money, we have to be realistic. We cannot buy players for £50 million and, even if we try to strengthen our team and spend money if needed, that is a fact.
The Manager's Email will return at the start of the 2011/12 season.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
2011-05-15 : Arsenal 1 - 2 Aston Villa
Wenger: 'We were punished for a poor start'
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
Sunday was very disappointing because we made a very bad start and Aston Villa punished us.
We went into the game too tentatively, we were not dominant enough in anything we did and we were on the back foot at the start. After that we battled to get back into the game but we were a bit unlucky.
I feel we should have had a penalty, we had a goal ruled out for something that often goes unpunished and overall we are very frustrated. We dropped three points which could cost us automatic qualification for the Champions League.
Why were we so tentative? We have been hit very hard by bad results and you could see that we suffered a little bit at the start of the game. But we have to rise above that. By the time we looked comfortable it was too late.
Thomas Vermaelen and Sebastien Squillaci played together for the first time but they are two players with experience so normally it should work. Vermaelen grew stronger as the game went on but it is a lot to ask to be dominant when he has not played since September.
I believe we gave very cheap goals away and at half time I took off Squillaci because we had to take a gamble, we had to score two goals. Because Villa closed us down we were forced to play out from the back and we needed somebody - a midfielder - at the back.
Some people have questioned whether we were right to do a 'lap of appreciation' after the game but it is our job to thank the fans and you should never feel embarrassed for doing your job.
It was not a tour of glory, of course. But I think, no matter what happens, you have to respect your fans for turning up for the whole season. It was not an ego trip, it was a chance to show our respect for the fans.
I know many fans left the stadium before the 'lap of appreciation' but you have to thank those who are still in the stand. What is important is that this Club has values and respects those values.
I feel fortunate that for 15 years we have played with full stands so when people are not happy they can show it. We are in a job where you have to please people and if they are not happy, we have to accept that.
Finally, we now know that Cesc Fabregas will not play against Fulham next weekend after suffering a setback with his thigh injury. Samir Nasri has a very small chance of returning next Sunday and Johan Djourou is also a big doubt.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
Sunday was very disappointing because we made a very bad start and Aston Villa punished us.
We went into the game too tentatively, we were not dominant enough in anything we did and we were on the back foot at the start. After that we battled to get back into the game but we were a bit unlucky.
I feel we should have had a penalty, we had a goal ruled out for something that often goes unpunished and overall we are very frustrated. We dropped three points which could cost us automatic qualification for the Champions League.
Why were we so tentative? We have been hit very hard by bad results and you could see that we suffered a little bit at the start of the game. But we have to rise above that. By the time we looked comfortable it was too late.
Thomas Vermaelen and Sebastien Squillaci played together for the first time but they are two players with experience so normally it should work. Vermaelen grew stronger as the game went on but it is a lot to ask to be dominant when he has not played since September.
I believe we gave very cheap goals away and at half time I took off Squillaci because we had to take a gamble, we had to score two goals. Because Villa closed us down we were forced to play out from the back and we needed somebody - a midfielder - at the back.
Some people have questioned whether we were right to do a 'lap of appreciation' after the game but it is our job to thank the fans and you should never feel embarrassed for doing your job.
It was not a tour of glory, of course. But I think, no matter what happens, you have to respect your fans for turning up for the whole season. It was not an ego trip, it was a chance to show our respect for the fans.
I know many fans left the stadium before the 'lap of appreciation' but you have to thank those who are still in the stand. What is important is that this Club has values and respects those values.
I feel fortunate that for 15 years we have played with full stands so when people are not happy they can show it. We are in a job where you have to please people and if they are not happy, we have to accept that.
Finally, we now know that Cesc Fabregas will not play against Fulham next weekend after suffering a setback with his thigh injury. Samir Nasri has a very small chance of returning next Sunday and Johan Djourou is also a big doubt.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
2011-05-08 : Stoke City 3 - 1 Arsenal
Wenger: 'We were not dangerous enough'
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
It was a disappointing performance from us on Sunday.
The competitive level of Stoke was higher than ours and I think we lost the game because Stoke defended much better than we did and with much more purpose. At the end of the day we were not dangerous enough.
Stoke are a good team and they have a lot of confidence with the FA Cup Final coming up next weekend. Maybe if they had needed to fight from 1-0 down it would have been a different story on Sunday but from 1-0 up they defended well and caught us on the break.
We have been inconsistent and if you do not turn up with the same competitive spirit in every game you can lose anywhere. Stoke defend well and make it difficult so the most important thing at the Britannia Stadium is not to be 1-0 down, but after their first free kick we were 1-0 down.
We have conceded, I think, 21 goals from set pieces and only 17 in open play. That's fewer than anybody else in open play but it's clear we have been caught on set-pieces.
On Sunday Kenwyne Jones didn't even need to jump to head the ball in and that is something we have to correct. It is the easiest thing to correct but you still must understand the flight of the ball and want to be first to the ball.
Aaron Ramsey returned to the scene of his injury and he did alright, he was not scared. But of course he is still short of sharpness because he has not played enough games.
Substituting him was just a tactical thing because we were 2-0 down and needed to go for more penetration. We had a lot of possession but not a lot of progression.
We played poorly on Sunday but my team has done well overall this season. If you analyse all the competitions and how we have done, we have done well. Something has gone and you could see that at Stoke but we have to take a distance and make the right analysis of the season.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
It was a disappointing performance from us on Sunday.
The competitive level of Stoke was higher than ours and I think we lost the game because Stoke defended much better than we did and with much more purpose. At the end of the day we were not dangerous enough.
Stoke are a good team and they have a lot of confidence with the FA Cup Final coming up next weekend. Maybe if they had needed to fight from 1-0 down it would have been a different story on Sunday but from 1-0 up they defended well and caught us on the break.
We have been inconsistent and if you do not turn up with the same competitive spirit in every game you can lose anywhere. Stoke defend well and make it difficult so the most important thing at the Britannia Stadium is not to be 1-0 down, but after their first free kick we were 1-0 down.
We have conceded, I think, 21 goals from set pieces and only 17 in open play. That's fewer than anybody else in open play but it's clear we have been caught on set-pieces.
On Sunday Kenwyne Jones didn't even need to jump to head the ball in and that is something we have to correct. It is the easiest thing to correct but you still must understand the flight of the ball and want to be first to the ball.
Aaron Ramsey returned to the scene of his injury and he did alright, he was not scared. But of course he is still short of sharpness because he has not played enough games.
Substituting him was just a tactical thing because we were 2-0 down and needed to go for more penetration. We had a lot of possession but not a lot of progression.
We played poorly on Sunday but my team has done well overall this season. If you analyse all the competitions and how we have done, we have done well. Something has gone and you could see that at Stoke but we have to take a distance and make the right analysis of the season.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
2011-05-01 : Arsenal 1 - 0 Manchester United**
Wenger: 'I am very happy for Aaron Ramsey'
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
We produced a good performance against Manchester United on Sunday with discipline, fighting spirit and our usual passing game.
Until we scored the goal, I feel we completely controlled the game. Then, because we have not won a lot recently, we tried to protect our advantage and were more under pressure. Overall, I believe we deserved to win the game.
I am very happy for Aaron Ramsey, who scored our winner. When you consider that his injury happened 14 months ago, he now looks to be back to his best. If you look at the age of the team on Sunday I think it's really encouraging for the Club. We had a very young midfield and were still very positive in our display.
There were two big penalty appeals. It was a handball by Vidic and I think the referee didn't see it. On that front, we have not been lucky this season. There were some debatable decisions over the weekend and I must say I am a big fan of video technology and I have been for a long time. But I have little power to make that happen.
As for the title race, I have not given up any hope. We want to fight until the last second of the season. Let's hope we have a bit more luck in the final three weeks because you never know. But Manchester United remain in the best position and the second best is Chelsea because they play against United next week.
I still make United the favourites because when you play at home for the title you see an advantage. But if we want to have a small chance, it's in our interest that Chelsea win at Old Trafford and for us to win our games. After that, we could be back mathematically but I still think United has an advantage.
If we do lose the title we will point to last week as the moment we lost it, especially against Bolton and Liverpool. We were 1-0 up in the 97th minute against Liverpool, we were 3-1 up at Tottenham and we had three chances to go 2-1 up against Bolton. If we could have won nine points from those games plus the win today, we would have been ahead of Man United.
I gave young players a chance on Sunday and, although we want to add what we need, I feel it is important for the Club that we keep faith in what we do. You can see that the players grow when they get the chance to play. Like Szczesny, for example, you can see already that compared to two months ago, he has already grown.
It is a law in our game that you can only grow, at some stage, if you play. So people want both, they want to win every game and they want us to produce quality young players. If Wilshere has grown this season it is because he played. But on the other hand, if you do not win, people say, 'why do you play young players?'
Finally, we picked up a couple of injuries on Sunday. Samir has a hamstring problem, a small one I think. Cesc has got a kick on his thigh, we'll know on Tuesday if he can practice again. He has a chance to play at Stoke on Sunday.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
We produced a good performance against Manchester United on Sunday with discipline, fighting spirit and our usual passing game.
Until we scored the goal, I feel we completely controlled the game. Then, because we have not won a lot recently, we tried to protect our advantage and were more under pressure. Overall, I believe we deserved to win the game.
I am very happy for Aaron Ramsey, who scored our winner. When you consider that his injury happened 14 months ago, he now looks to be back to his best. If you look at the age of the team on Sunday I think it's really encouraging for the Club. We had a very young midfield and were still very positive in our display.
There were two big penalty appeals. It was a handball by Vidic and I think the referee didn't see it. On that front, we have not been lucky this season. There were some debatable decisions over the weekend and I must say I am a big fan of video technology and I have been for a long time. But I have little power to make that happen.
As for the title race, I have not given up any hope. We want to fight until the last second of the season. Let's hope we have a bit more luck in the final three weeks because you never know. But Manchester United remain in the best position and the second best is Chelsea because they play against United next week.
I still make United the favourites because when you play at home for the title you see an advantage. But if we want to have a small chance, it's in our interest that Chelsea win at Old Trafford and for us to win our games. After that, we could be back mathematically but I still think United has an advantage.
If we do lose the title we will point to last week as the moment we lost it, especially against Bolton and Liverpool. We were 1-0 up in the 97th minute against Liverpool, we were 3-1 up at Tottenham and we had three chances to go 2-1 up against Bolton. If we could have won nine points from those games plus the win today, we would have been ahead of Man United.
I gave young players a chance on Sunday and, although we want to add what we need, I feel it is important for the Club that we keep faith in what we do. You can see that the players grow when they get the chance to play. Like Szczesny, for example, you can see already that compared to two months ago, he has already grown.
It is a law in our game that you can only grow, at some stage, if you play. So people want both, they want to win every game and they want us to produce quality young players. If Wilshere has grown this season it is because he played. But on the other hand, if you do not win, people say, 'why do you play young players?'
Finally, we picked up a couple of injuries on Sunday. Samir has a hamstring problem, a small one I think. Cesc has got a kick on his thigh, we'll know on Tuesday if he can practice again. He has a chance to play at Stoke on Sunday.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
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