THAT’S PANTS, ARSENE
Bizarre rant as Arsenal failings are laid bare
ARSENE WENGER avoided the urge to criticise his players with the bizarre claim that the last thing they need is to have their trousers pulled down.
Asked if they need to dig deeper to halt Arsenal’s slide, Wenger went into full Eric Cantona “seagulls and trawler” mode.
“It’s difficult for me to get into any negative assessment,” said the under-pressure Gunner’s boss.
“The team needs more support at the moment – tough objective judgement as well.
“When you struggle for confidence, it’s difficult as well when you have just the trousers on.
“It’s easy to take the trousers off as well, but when you are naked completely you have to try and find a shirt and get dressed properly again. You can’t put them more down.”
Ramped
The manager’s words may have been cryptic but the message was clear – it doesn’t help to kick the squad when they are already down.
If only Wenger’s players had made the same effort to protect their manager instead of racking up the club’s worst run in 16 years.
A fourth successive defeat unleashed another volley of criticism at the manager from Gunners fans who demand change.
The volume will be ramped up to 11 if they slump in the San Siro on Thursday, when a fifth defeat would be the club’s worst set of results since 1977.
And after this display, you wouldn’t bet against them coming off second best against AC Milan.
The Italian giants aren’t what they were, but as impressive as Brighton were at the Amex Stadium, they are hardly heavyweights. But they were allowed to deliver two first-half killer blows – first from Lewis Dunk and then Glenn Murray – far too easily.
That left Wenger’s men facing a mountain to climb. And resilience has hardly been a trademark of Arsenal this season – especially since the turn of the year when they have lost eight times.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may have given them hope of a comeback when he replied close to half-time.
But Chris Hughton’s side have made great strides this season and they saw off the threat to move seven points clear of the drop zone.
Brighton had done their homework and pressed Wenger’s side high up the pitch.
And that was enough to cause chaos amongst the Arsenal backline who appeared to panic every time Albion surged forward on goal.
It took just seven minutes for the defence to be breached when keeper Petr Cech flapped at a corner.
That allowed Shane Duffy to head down into the path of Dunk who hooked the ball home.
Murray headed the second in the 26th minute – his 11th league goal of the season – after a catalogue of Arsenal errors.
Laurent Koscielny gave the ball away, Shkodran Mustafi was drawn under Pascal Gross’s cross and Cech allowed Murray’s header to squirm under him.
If it was painful viewing for Wenger, the travelling fans made it clear they had seen enough by demanding change in the dugout.
Aubameyang turned in Granit Xhaka’s pass in the 43rd minute to silence the criticism.
But things could have got worse for Arsenal when Sead Kolasinac – already on a yellow – escaped punishment for an ugly challenge on Ezequiel Schelotto.
Albion boss Hughton said: “This is a big win, particularly given who we were playing. We’re definitely hitting our best form at the right stage of the season. It’s now whether we can take it forward.”