Bunch of goners?
Arsenal boss says his Gunners are cheap, timid and dodgy
They were once the Invincibles. Not any more. Arsenal are now “cheap”, “timid” and “dodgy”. Manager Arsene Wenger was so frustrated by his team’s capitulation against Manchester City at the Emirates last Sunday that he laid on his team. Arsenal are in sixth place in the Premier League and face a tough challenge from Tottenham Hotspur and Everton for a spot in the lucrative Champions League. And on Sunday, there are more worries for Wenger as they face high-riding Chelsea.
LONDON: Arsene Wenger was brutally honest: Arsenal were timid, gave away cheap goals and had a dodgy start. Sums it up really. The biggest disappointment for Gunners fans was the way they capitulated against champions Manchester City.
Laurent Koscielny was sent off after just 10 minutes and, although Wojciech Szczesny saved Edin Dzeko’s penalty, first-half strikes from James Milner and Dzeko ensured a vital three points for City.
Downbeat Wenger admitted: “It was frustrating. We had 80 minutes to play with 10 men and we knew it would be a difficult game.
“But I felt we were a bit too timid at the start and not showing enough authority in the game.
“We let them dictate the game to us in the first 10 minutes and we were punished.
“From then on it became difficult but in the second half we had a good response.
“We had chances to come back but we didn’t take them.”
The tone of the match was set when Koscielny was sent off for hauling down Dzeko in the six-yard box.
But fair dues to Wenger, who refused to blame referee Mike Dean for applying the letter of the law.
He added: “I haven’t seen it again. I was surprised by the decision but I have heard that it was a penalty.
“We have to live with the decision and it does not mean that we had to lose the game. I felt we gave two cheap goals away and we were guilty.
“If you keep it at 0-0 with 10 men you never know.
“What I make of the decision is not really important.
“Overall we started too timidly, with not enough authority in a game like that, and allowed them to dictate.
“We didn’t start with enough confidence or authority.
“You have to dictate your personality, especially defensively.
“It’s frustrating because the team showed great heart and desire after that.
“But we’re a bit too nervous to play in a serene way at home and that is costing us.
“It’s not anger. The players want to do well.
“It’s just the fact that we need to be a bit more confident in this kind of game.
“We want to do so well we are a bit uptight. It’s not anger, it’s frustration that we do not see from the start what this team is capable of.”
City went ahead in the 21st minute when, with Lukas Podolski ballwatching, Carlos Tevez played the ball past Kieran Gibbs and Thomas Vermaelen and Milner’s rocket shot went on off the far post.
Then Gibbs missed out to Pablo Zabaleta, Milner whipped in a ball and Tevez got ahead of the dozy Per Mertesacker. Szczesny got a hand to it but Dzeko tapped home the rebound.
Wenger added: “We lacked concentration especially for the first goal – yes.
“And for the second we had to win the challenges.
“After that the team gave a lot in the second half, you could not fault that but I feel at the moment we are a bit nervous at home and not relaxed enough.
“Welack that authority thatmakes you stronger, especially at the start of a game. We always start a bit dodgily and today we paid for it.”
Jack Wilshere was at the receiving end of some tough challenges but Wenger did not believe he was targeted. He said: “I hope not. I didn’t get that sense in the game.
“He has a game that provokes tackles. He’s incisive and goes forward.
“He has found a burst when he’s on the ball, and that’s very interesting.
“It would have been interesting if the match had stayed as 11 against 11.”