The long awaited press conference by The Boss has finally taken place and here are some quotes from Arsenal’s official website:
On his reaction to the Bayern defeat:
That we were in an ideal position at half-time, because we scored a goal away from home. After that, it all went wrong for us. I think we looked quite defensively solid in the first half.
We lost Koscielny in the second half and after that we lost our structure and our organisation a bit.
We were a bit naive on the different goals we conceded. At 3-1 I felt we were mentally affected by the result and were much more vulnerable
On his intentions as regards a clap back at Bayern Munich at the Emirates:
What is important for us is to focus on our next game and let everybody judge and criticise. We have to deal with that, with the media, and focus on what is our job. We can analyse with clarity what happened and focus and take care of what is in front of us and what we can influence.
It’s not the last result – we can influence that when we play against Bayern at home. At the moment we have to look at our next game
On any truth behind the rumors circulating about a dressing room row:
No. Not at all. Everybody was of course deeply disappointed and affected but there was no incident in the dressing room apart from a huge sadness and disappointment
Oh well, I guess that is the final word on that chapter. …..for now, that is.
Moving on, there’s been a lot of chatter especially on about Alexis Sanchez’s request for a break to get his head straight and back in the game. Well, Arsene Wenger has also had his say on the matter and below is a quote from his response on aArsenal Player:
He has a court case in Barcelona and he will be back in training tomorrow
We may want to hold on to our pitchforks on what we read no matter how trustworthy the source is.
Our next game will see us travel to Sutton United’s home on Monday in an FA cup tie and the boss has this to say on team selection:
A normal team… I gave [some youngsters] a chance [at Southampton] because I think they deserved to play and have a good opportunity to come in for players who usually play, and I think they have done well. One or two might have another chance to say that they can play in every single game now.
The assumption is that the two players referenced in the quote are Maitland-Niles and Jeff-Reine Adelaide. The game is anxiously awaited and a solid win will be just what the doctor ordered.
There’s some credibility however to the gist that Chilean football fans have decided to take to the streets to coax Alexis Sanchez into abandoning ship at the Emirates(as per SUN).
Well, as much as their frustration and sentiment are shared by a large number of Arsenal and football fans, but the behavior doesn’t look appropriate.
No doubt Alexis Sanchez’s work rate is unrivaled in the Gunners’ squad and sometimes it even looks like others are at a cinema popping popcorn and watching him close down and attack.
However, he is under a contract and is obligated to play his part irrespective of the commitment of anyone else in his team. That said, it remains to be seen how the impact of that gesture would have on him and/or his response to it.
Arsene Wenger also provided some clarity about his future according to the Telegraph. This what he had to say when asked if he had had enough;
No. No matter what I happens, I will manage next season, whether it’s here or somewhere else. That’s absolutely for sure. On a night like that, of course, I hate defeat and I hate to lose games. I want to do extremely well for this club and I feel a big responsibility. You do not stay somewhere for 20 years to then walk out after a defeat like that.
It is difficult to take, but I have the strength and experience to respond to that. I would just like to add as well that we played against a good Bayern team who have won this competition [recently], and who have 11 top-class players. We have to give credit to our opponents as well sometimes. It’s important to put things into perspective in this competition, and they are top-class players
Any chance we could just turn our attention to what we can still achieve and desist from all these distracting news and rumors?
COYG! ! !
