Nothing here to im-press Wenger...
Through the wringer: Wenger and coach Jens Lehmann watch from the press box
PERCHED on the edge of his seat, there were a couple of moments when Arsene Wenger quite forgot where he was.
Rising to his feet with gasps of ‘Arghhh’ as he vented his displeasure at a refereeing decision and a misplaced pass by Granit Xhaka, we caught a glimpse of the Arsenal manager in his element.
Those cries were followed by sheepish glances behind him to see if anyone noticed. Yes, Arsene, we saw you.
Then came the expletives. ‘Every time he [Alvaro Morata] goes down it’s a f****** free-kick,’ Wenger was heard mumbling to himself in the second half.
His surroundings were different, but Wenger simply couldn’t contain what comes naturally to him. Dugout or press box, Wenger’s impulsiveness makes for enthralling entertainment.
‘I think you are well treated in the stadiums because you have good positions,’ said Wenger afterwards.
On the pitch, two of English football’s giants were slugging it out for a place in a Wembley cup final. But the scene in the Stamford Bridge press box was just as captivating as Wenger watched the match from the media seats, as he served the second of his three-game touchline ban.
When it was suggested to him at Tuesday’s briefing that the press box would be the perfect environment for him to watch last night’s London derby, he replied: ‘ Why not?’ Maybe he listens to journalists after all. In fact, it made total sense: the Stamford Bridge press box is dead centre of the pitch and right behind the dugouts.
It’s also just a 30- second walk down to the dressing room, allowingwing him to fulfil his half-time dutieses — which he iss entitled to doo despite his ban.
Wenger complained on Tuesday he missed 10 minutes of the Premier Leaguee game betweenen the two clubss at Stamford Bridgeridge last Februaryy as he walked to and from the dressing room to the directors’ box as he served part of another touchline ban. As at Nottingham Forest on SSunday, Wenger wwas flanked by ffirst-i team coach JenJens Lehmann here. He seemed uncomfortable for tab uncomfortable as he strode up the stairstairs leading to his seat.t HHe smiledil at a couple of journalists, but this was a League Cup semi-final — Wenger had his game face on.
Wenger’s not been in the best mood of late. His crusade against referees, his team’s shock FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest and their stuttering league form has made him grumpy.
Signs of his unhappiness were on show inside the opening 10 seconds as he gesticulated towards the pitch with a pained look on his face.
The first shake of the head soon followed as Eden Hazard’s pass cut through the Gunners’ defence, allowing Alvaro Morata to get a shot away.
He flung his right arm in the air in fury as Chelsea were awarded a free-kick after Granit Xhaka’s challenge on Hazard.
Both arms were flailing soon after when referee Martin Atkinson awarded Chelsea another free-kick following another dubious foul on the Belgian.
Last week Wenger branded Hazard a diver; it’s safe to say he hasn’t changed his mind on that.
But he didn’t flinch when Alexandre Lacazette fired a great chance over. No doubt he reserved his opinion on that for half-time.
Some Chelsea fans near the press box tried to get a rise out of Wenger. Stick from fans? It’s just like sitting in the Emirates dugout, isn’t it Arsene?