Wenger laments a lack of mettle
ARSENE WENgER last night admitted his Arsenal team were mentally unable to cope as they were humiliated by Bayern Munich during a nightmare in germany.
Wenger’s future is once again under huge scrutiny after his team collapsed at the Allianz Arena and it seems increasingly possible he will walk away from the Emirates this summer after his 20-year reign slumped to a new low.
Drawing 1-1 with Bayern at the break, Arsenal caved in, conceding three goals in 10 minutes and another one at the end of the game.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown called the performance ‘embarrassing’ and now believes Wenger’s time at the club is effectively up. Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand, a Champions League winner with Manchester United, described the gunners as ‘spineless’.
In a post-match press conference cut short after less than three minutes, Wenger said: ‘The real problems were after the third goal. We lost our organisation and we looked mentally jaded and vulnerable from that moment onwards. The last 25 minutes were a nightmare for us. We looked like we had no response.’
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny limped off on 49 minutes, prompting Wenger’s men to cave in. ‘He came off at 1-1 and, sadly, it looked like we collapsed,’ said Wenger. ‘It’s difficult, mentally. Credit to Bayern, they were a better team than us.’
Arsenal cancelled out Arjen Robben’s opener when Alexis Sanchez scored a rebound after his penalty was saved and the visitors could have taken the lead before half-time.
But reflecting on their subsequent surrender, Keown said: ‘I feel for Wenger now and it’s embarrassing. They’ve been outclassed and outplayed — and Bayern did it at a canter.
‘It’s 20 years and seriously Wenger now must be considering his future because that was embarrassing. I can’t ever say I’d like to see him go, he’s almost my football father. But he’s an intelligent man and this is his lowest point ever.’
Wenger and his players must now go through the ritual of trying to pull off a second-leg miracle at the Emirates on March 7 but, in reality, their season now rests on their FA Cup tie at non-League Sutton United on Monday.
Ferdinand said: ‘Arsenal got dismantled. In the first half, they had Bayern on the ropes. At 1-1, they looked like a team to go on and do something, to come away with a draw. But I didn’t see 5-1 coming. Bayern went into overdrive and Arsenal couldn’t deal with it.
‘They looked spineless, that’s the word. No fight or aggression. I didn’t see anyone give a rollicking out there. There was no fire in bellies and that’s disappointing.’
This will be the seventh successive season Wenger has failed to guide his team past the last 16 of the Champions League. The Frenchman added: ‘I do not look for excuses. I give explanations and it’s a shock. Tonight we did everything wrong.’
Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti came out in support of Wenger, saying: ‘This is football. Arsene has a lot of experience and he has the experience to manage this moment and look forward.’
With Wenger refusing to say whether he will sign a new contract at Arsenal, the debate about his suitability will now rage.
Keown, who played for Wenger for eight years, added: ‘I fear for him really, in terms of should he almost be protected from himself. I don’t want him to be like a boxer who has been in the ring too long. But this is 20 years of work here and you don’t want to lose that.’