Wenger defiant

LONDON. – Arsene Wenger has told his critics that if they are right to say he is “tactically useless” then he must also be a “genius”.

Following the club’s worst start – after 12 games – in 32 years, angry Arsenal fans held up a banner in the away end at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday which read: “Arsene thanks for the memories but it is time to say goodbye”.

After Danny Welbeck scored to secure a 1-0 away win, the 65-year-old Frenchman, in charge of the Gunners since 1996, said: “I started to manage a team at the top level in 1983. If I am completely useless tactically, I am a genius (because) I can hide it very well.

“Look, in (each of) the last 15 years, we qualified for the last 16 in the Champions League. Give me another club who has done that. I think we have shown extreme consistency and that’s all we can do.” – The Mirror.