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Arsene Wenger’s appetite for success has not diminished and the Arsenal manager is doing a “great job” at the London club, his assistant Steve Bould has said.
Bould, speaking in place of an ill Wenger ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game against Stoke City, said the 68-year-old was a great manager.
Wenger has faced criticism in recent seasons for the club’s failure to mount a serious title challenge.
Arsenal are set to finish their 14th straight season without winning the league title and Wenger said recently that calls for him to step down had grown in the past few years because of prejudice against older managers.
Asked if Wenger’s desire was as strong as ever, Bould said: “Absolutely, he is remarkable. Behind closed doors I’ve never met anybody who is as hungry and determined to win football games. It’s as big as I’ve ever seen.”
Wenger took charge of Arsenal in 1996 and has led the club to three league titles and seven FA Cup triumphs but has failed to win in Europe.
Arsenal are sixth in the league with 48 points from 30 matches. Their hopes of silverware lie in the Europa League where they face CSKA Moscow in the quarter-finals next week.
“He’s doing a great job as far as I’m concerned and he’s done a great job for an awful long time,” former Arsenal defender Bould added.
“I admire him immensely. He takes unbelievable stick off an awful lot people and he’s just one of the great managers. It’s a pleasure for me to sit next to him.”
Midfielder Jack Wilshere was training without any problem after missing England’s international friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy last week with a knee injury.
Striker Alexandre Lacazette is also back in full training after minor surgery on his left knee last month.
Relegation-threatened Stoke are second from bottom with 27 points from 31 games. They beat Arsenal 1-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Premier League fixtures
Tomorrow: Crystal Palace v Liverpool (Selhurst Park 13:30), West Ham United v Southampton (London Stadium 16:00), Brighton & Hove Albion v Leicester City (The American Express Community Stadium 16:00), Newcastle United v Huddersfield Town (St. James’ Park 16:00), Watford v AFC Bournemouth (Vicarage Road Stadium 16:00), Manchester United v Swansea City (Old Trafford 16:00), West Bromwich Albion v Burnley (The Hawthorns 16:00), Everton v Manchester City (Goodison Park 18:30).
Sunday: Arsenal v Stoke City (Emirates Stadium 14:30), Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (Stamford Bridge 17:00).
Table
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Manchester City 30 26 3 1 85 20 65 81
2 Manchester United 30 20 5 5 58 23 35 65
3 Liverpool 31 18 9 4 73 34 39 63
4 Tottenham Hotspur 30 18 7 5 59 25 34 61
5 Chelsea 30 17 5 8 52 27 25 56
6 Arsenal 30 14 6 10 55 41 14 48
7 Burnley 30 11 10 9 27 26 1 43
8 Leicester City 30 10 10 10 45 43 2 40
9 Everton 31 11 7 13 37 50 -13 40
10 AFC Bournemouth 31 9 9 13 37 49 -12 36
11 Watford 31 10 6 15 39 55 -16 36
12 Brighton & H-Albion 30 8 10 12 28 40 -12 34
13 Newcastle United 30 8 8 14 30 40 -10 32
14 Swansea City 30 8 7 15 25 42 -17 31
15 Huddersfield Town 31 8 7 16 25 52 -27 31
16 Crystal Palace 31 7 9 15 30 48 -18 30
17 West Ham United 30 7 9 14 36 57 -21 30
18 Southampton 30 5 13 12 29 44 -15 28
19 Stoke City 31 6 9 16 29 58 -29 27
20 West Bromwich 31 3 11 17 24 49 -25 20
— Reuters.
Online Reporter