Wenger aiming to win back disillusioned fans with Europa progress

Empty seats a concern at Emirates for return leg Manager warns ‘Milan have nothing to lose’

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal have been seemingly on the edge of crisis for years, but that is never more true than tonight when the attendance against AC Milan will be more keenly scrutinised than many past performances or even results.

The urgent need to win back disillusioned fans was underlined by Wenger yesterday, and for the players, the examples of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United were cited as a stark warning that apparently positive away European results can be misleading.

Empty seats were the big talking point after Sunday’s 3-0 win against Watford, but that could at least be partially explained by a Premier League in which Arsenal look almost certain now to finish sixth. Thousands of no-shows tonight in a Europa League competition that is the last remaining hope both of silverware and Champions League qualification would send a much more alarming signal.

“I don’t know the explanations,” said Wenger. “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.”

Something similar to last week’s 2-0 win at the San Siro would certainly be timely, and the experience of almost throwing away a 3-0 advantage in the previous round against Ostersunds should ensure there is no complacency.

Nerves are surely the biggest danger given the wider context of Arsenal’s season – and perhaps even Wenger’s future – but the Frenchman was adamant that his players have the mental strength to complete the job. Asked how the concession of an early goal might affect the mood, he stressed that setbacks need not provide an insurmountable obstacle.

“We can struggle at home, like Manchester United, like Tottenham,” said Wenger. “Nobody accepts it any more, but a football game is like that. Europe gives you a psychological problem you have to master. When you have won away, 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.”

Wenger had talked at length before the first leg about the suffering of a manager, but having himself recently received a message of sup- port from Sir Alex Ferguson, he could not quite bring himself to deliver a similar message to Jose Mourinho after Manchester United’s Champions League exit.

“I am supportive to everyone who suffers,” he said. “People at our level are most demanding with ourselves. The biggest suffering we get is with our demands.

“A guy once said, ‘You are loved when you are born. You are loved when you die. In between, you have to manage’. I want everybody to be happy in the world. Why do you [the media] want bombs everywhere?”

The problem, of course, is that Arsenal have been leaving themselves ticking bombs. Aaron Ramsey, who will return to the starting team tonight after being rested against Watford, and Jack Wilshere are two increasingly pressing contractual situations.

Wilshere is out of contract this summer and Wenger indicated yesterday that the existing offer of a performance-led contract that would include a slight drop in his basic wage would not be reviewed despite the midfielder’s current reluctance to accept.

Asked if any player with only a year remaining would be told to ‘Sign or go’, Wenger said: “No, not at all. We want the players to stay at this club and that is why I always speak about values. We want our players to be proud of the values that have been created based on hard work and humility and a desire to be together. That is the values we want the players to take charge of and show these values.

“When you talk to me that they go somewhere, it is for what?”

The obvious reply of “money” did at least elicit a smile.