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LONDON. — He has often been accused by his club’s frustrated fans of treating Arsenal’s money as if it is his own. That view received a fresh airing this summer after Gunners fans discovered that theirs was the only club in Europe’s top five leagues not to buy an outfield player.
Now, for the first time, Arsene Wenger has unashamedly pleaded guilty to the charge and given a rare insight into the hurt he feels when his work is questioned at the Emirates Stadium.
Wenger admits it can be frustrating when Arsenal fans criticise him, despite his achievements at the club.
The Frenchman has been at the helm for almost 20 years and has never seen his side finish outside the top four.
But Wenger has come in for criticism in recent years from some Arsenal fans at their lack of silverware, with their last English Premier League title coming in the 2003/04 season.
And Wenger admits Arsenal fans can sometimes overreact if the Gunners suffer defeat.
The Frenchman said: “I’ll give myself merit for one thing: I’ve always treated Arsenal as if it belonged to me.
“I have sometimes been criticised for it — because I am not enough of a spender, not carefree enough.
“I credit myself for having had the courage to apply my ideas and fight for them. Aside from that, I can understand why people might not agree.
“My great pride will be to be able to say the day that I leave, that I am leaving behind a good team, a healthy situation and a club capable of performing in the future.
“I could have said to myself: ‘I am here for four or five years, we win everything’, (then) I leave and leave the club on the verge of bankruptcy. For me, consistency at the highest level is the true sign of great clubs.” The Gunners are in rude health domestically at the moment — joint-top of the English Premier League going into the international break. A hard-fought point to prevent arch-rivals Spurs taking all three at the Emirates on Sunday was testament to the new-found steel instilled in his side as they bid to win over their doubters.
The club’s league position and the performances of £10million keeper Petr Cech — the one player that Wenger did buy in the off-season — appear to have vindicated his transfer policy.
Yet the Frenchman has admitted some of his harshest critics remain within the Arsenal fanbase.
The club have never finished outside the top four under him since his arrival 19 years ago. It is a magnificent record that he continues to take great pride in.
He still lives on a knife-edge, though, as he is praised to the hilt in victory and mercilessly vilified by the club’s supporters in defeat. — The Mirror.
Online Reporter