REVIVED WENGER SET FOR ETIHAD D-DAY
ARSENE WENGER claimed he was unaware this was his 800th game in charge of Arsenal until he saw it on a TV tickertape, walking out of the tunnel just before 3pm on Saturday. To some fans at the Emirates it might have felt like his 8,000th as a familiar tale of frustration unfolded until two goals in 10 minutes finally cracked Swansea’s stoic defence. The result was a fourth straight win since Troy Deeney’s analysis that Wenger’s team lacked ‘cojones’. The question remains whether the Watford striker or Wenger has given the more effective team talk in recent weeks. What can be said is Wenger has again calmed talk about bringing an end to his epoch in north London. He might find the relief is temporary. Beating Swansea is one thing, but next is a trip to Manchester City and the home derby against Tottenham. There will be a Groundhog Day feel if it goes wrong in those league encounters, regardless of Thursday’s Europa League visit from Red Star Belgrade. Wenger agreed Sunday’s trip to the Etihad could be season defining. ‘That’s normal because they are on a good run,’ he said. ‘People always extend these good runs to the end of the season, but at some stage they have to be stopped because nobody runs away (with the title).’
After a match when free transfer Sead Kolasinac was the outstanding player, much attention will be on Alexis Sanchez, given his previous desire for a move to City. Will that business prove a distraction? Might he try too hard?
‘I am not concerned,’ Wenger said. ‘I am not suspicious of a player’s desire to win. They have a social contract with their team. I never question that.
‘He’s coming back stronger. He’s frustrated when he doesn’t score. I’m not worried about it. He works hard and it will come back quickly. You can never try too hard. They double up on him, but he still creates dangerous situations.’
Wenger has the air of glacial indifference to his 800 landmark. ‘I didn’t know,’ he said. ‘I saw it on TV before the game because I watched Manchester United against Tottenham. It was written it was my 800th game.’ Some will be relieved to hear he sees 1,000 matches as a distant prospect. ‘It would be difficult, I need 200 and that’s five years. Having this experience makes you humble unless you are completely stupid. I refuse to be completely stupid so you never know how long you go.’ Paul Clement only has 767 games to go at Swansea before he catches up with his opposite number. He marvelled at Wenger’s shelf life, championing the value of experience.
‘It is not a guarantee of success, changing managers,’ he said. ‘Chelsea and Real Madrid have done it but United and Arsenal have been fantastically successful by having longevity.
‘Bayern Munich have just turned to a 72-year-old. Age isn’t relevant.’ ARSENAL (3-4-3): Cech 5; Koscielny 4.5, Mertesacker 5.5, Monreal 6.5; Bellerin 6, Ramsey 7, Xhaka 7, KOLASINAC 8 (Holding 78min); Ozil 6.5, Lacazette 7 (Giroud 81), Sanchez 7. Subs not used: Macey, Wilshere, Walcott, Iwobi, Coquelin. Scorers: Kolasinac 51, Ramsey 58. Booked: None. Manager: Arsene Wenger 6.5. SWANSEA CITY (4-4-2): Fabianski 7; Van der Hoorn 6.5 (Dyer 82), Fernandez 7, Mawson 7, Naughton 5; Ki 6.5, Fer 5, Carroll 6.5 (McBurnie 84), Clucas 6.5; Ayew 5.5 (Narsingh 81), Abraham 6.5. Subs not used: Nordfelt, Routledge, Mesa, Rodon. Scorer: Clucas 22. Booked: None. Manager: Paul Clement 6.5. Referee: Lee Mason 7. Attendance: 59,493.