TIME TO COME BACK
Gunners can win over fans
ARSENE WENGER admits Arsenal have a long way to go before they win back their stay-away fans.
Wenger’s men played in front of thousands of empty seats against Watford on Sunday and the Emirates is expected to be far from full for tonight’s Europa League clash with AC Milan.
But the Gunners boss believes a decent run of form will get the Arsenal faithful flooding back.
He said: “I don’t know the explanations. I feel that for 22 years I have played in front of sold-out stadiums and I am grateful.
“If there are one or two games and the stadium is not completely full, we have to look at ourselves and get the fans behind us again.
Empty
“This club is massive and the support is huge. It is just down to our performances.
“Do I want the fans to come back? Of course. You don’t expect me to say I don’t want them to come back? Do I acknowledge that they have stayed away? We acknowledge everything.”
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey backed Wenger’s calls to win back the fans, who have stayed away in numbers for several matches.
He said: “Hopefully there won’t be so many empty seats but we’re just focused on going out there and trying to win a football game.
“Hopefully our performances will encourage many to come back.” Arsenal take a healthy lead into the second leg of their last-16 clash after winning 2-0 in Milan. With Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United out of the Champions League, Wenger was asked if Arsenal are the English side with the best chance of winning a European trophy. “I don’t approach it like that,” he added. “This is one opportunity we have and we have to take it. We did half a job in the first game but Europe gives you a psychological problem you have to master. “When you have won away from home, you have to finish the job at home. But it is not easy because it always puts the team who is playing against you in the position of having nothing to lose. “And you have to face the fact that the best way to approach the game is to try to win it.”
Wenger said he has sympathy for United boss Jose Mourinho, who copped criticism for the way his side lost to Sevilla.
He said: “I am supportive to everyone who suffers. I want English football to do well. A guy said, ‘You are loved when you are born. You are loved when you die. In between you have to manage’.”