DERAILED BY DOOMSAYERS
Wenger fears critical fans may hurt title hopes
NOT even this show of courage will be enough to placate Arsene Wenger’s critics. For some Arsenal fans, the Frenchman is simply the problem, not the answer.
The ‘ Wenger Out’ brigade have been prominent during the past fortnight. Arsenal, after the draw at White Hart Lane, have now gone five games without victory.
Social media i s awash with stinging criticism of the manager, and reasons why he must leave.
The way Arsenal fought back to grab a draw while down to 10 men indicated there’s still fight in this wounded team, who looked a great bet to win the title at the turn of the year. But some fans will not be swayed, and Wenger fears the negativity will derail his side’s title challenge even further.
‘Look, I’m like everybody, I prefer when the fans are happy,’ he said. ‘I’m more worried that it can get to the players’ confidence level, but I feel we have shown a great response, as a team, against Spurs and that we can deal with that, we analyse that well. We gave the ri ght response.
‘Have we won them round? I don’t know. I cannot speak for people, we just have to try to focus on our job and do i t well. They’ve shown against Tottenham that, even if the confidence is not high, they can play well.’
Alexis Sanchez’s 76th-minute strike will raise hope that the Gunners can build some momentum as they attempt to chase down Leicester.
But Francis Coquelin’s rash challenge on Harry Kane that earned the French midfielder a second yellow card, and the way they conceded two quickfire goals soon after, only served to promote the view that Wenger’s side lacks the mentality to win the title.
Wenger will look to address the issue by signing a replacement for Coquelin this summer. Arsenal fans, however, will argue they have heard it all before. Promised a big summer of spending, only to be left disappointed.
Sanchez’s equaliser, though, offered disgruntled fans a crumb of comfort.
The Chilean admitted this week that he is struggling for fitness and form, but his goal at White Hart Lane — his first in eight games — could see him finally return to his very best.
There were signs of it on Saturday, and Wenger added: ‘It was good to see Sanchez back to what he was. He had a strong match, a better attitude, a team attitude and looked always dangerous. There was room for him to score another goal.’
There’ll be similar sentiments regarding Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
The England striker fired home a breathtaking strike to put his team 2-1 ahead.
The strike was only Kane’s second in open play in nine games, but his manager Mauricio Pochettino believes his talismanic hitman can now go on another goal-laden run.
‘ Harry needed that goal f or confidence,’ admitted the Spurs boss. ‘He came from a period that was difficult for him. It’s important for the team that Harry has started to score again.
‘I have confidence in him. Harry has a strong mentality and is a very good player. But the Arsenal match was a big opportunity to score and show he is back.’
Pochettino has revealed, meanwhile, that Dele Alli is playing through the pain barrier to aid Tottenham’s title challenge.
The England midfielder injured an ankle during the warm-up ahead of last weekend’s 2-1 win over Swansea.
However, Alli is also suffering from a knee problem, according to his manager.
‘He is an incredible athlete, yes. But he is not a machine,’ asserted Pochettino. ‘He has a problem in his ankle and knee.’
Spurs’ staff will carefully monitor the injuries to ensure the problem does not escalate, with England manager Roy Hodgson sure to be kept updated on his midfielder’s fitness.
And Pochettino has admitted he has scaled back t he intensity of his infamous training sessions to ensure his side are not leg-weary for the season climax.
‘We have different plans for different players, we analyse the minutes they play and how they are,’ said the Argentine.
‘We are managing Alli, but not only him. We have a lot of players who are young and in their first or second season i n the Premier League.
‘It’s very tough and we spend a lot of time analysing to find information to give the best training sessions or recovery.’
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose (Davies 78); Dier, Dembele (Son 82); Eriksen,
Alli, Lamela (Mason 67); Kane. Subs not used: Vorm, Trippier, Chadli, Carroll. Booked: Lamela, Dier. ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Gibbs; Elneny (Giroud 67), Coquelin; Ramsey, Ozil (Campbell 90), Sanchez; Welbeck (Flamini 85). Subs not used: Walcott, Monreal, Chambers, Macey. Booked: Bellerin, Coquelin, Sanchez. Sent off: Coquelin. Referee: Michael Oliver. Attendance: 35,762. Man of the match: David Ospina.