Wenger still the right man - TV

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen has been shocked by calls for Arsene Wenger's head and insists he remains the right man for the job.

Last Updated: 20/02/13 at 15:17 Post Comment   

Vermaelen: Backing Wenger

Vermaelen: Backing Wenger

Transfer Specials

Luis Suarez wants to leave Liverpool but who wants to sign the Uruguayan? Real Madrid head the betting, with Bayern Munich and PSG also among the contenders. Check out the latest odds!

While a place in the Gunners' history books is assured, pressure is mounting on the Frenchman as, barring a miracle, the north Londoners' trophyless spell will stretch to an eighth successive season.

Saturday's FA Cup exit to Blackburn was compounded on Tuesday night by a 3-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.

With the league title already beyond them, large portions of Arsenal's support base have called for Wenger to leave - something captain Vermaelen cannot understand.

"Of course we're behind him," the defender said. "He's done a lot for this club. He still does a lot of hard work with us. He is the right man for the job.

"We have to show it on the pitch as well. At the moment the results are not good. But we will work hard with him to get the results back."

Asked if he was shocked by the fact Wenger's future is being question, Vermaelen added: "Yeah, I am actually.

"Everyone in football looks too short term. They don't look at the long term, and he's done a lot for this club.

"It doesn't mean that because it's not going well at the moment we don't stand behind him.

"You have to look at the long term. He is the right man for this club and we are all behind him."

That said, Vermaelen can also understand growing supporter unrest as Arsenal's struggles continue.

"Sometimes, as a player, you are frustrated as well," he said.

"If you lose you get frustrated but it's not the right thing to act on, we have to stick together, work hard. We need each other.

"They [the fans] must not forget that we need them because they belong to the team and to the club.

"We must stand behind each other, that's the only thing we can do."

Vermaelen and his team-mates will need that support more than ever in the return leg against Bayern in three weeks.

Jupp Heynckes' side toyed with the Gunners last night and the chances of Arsenal making the quarter-finals are slim at best.

Only twice in Champions League history has a team progressed after losing a home first leg in the knockout phase.

"At the moment there is a lot of disappointment because we lost," Vermaelen added.

"We didn't play disciplined enough as a team to win this game, especially in the first half. They were strong. It was difficult.

"Of course we are not happy. We are disappointed. We have to look at ourselves and stick together in difficult times.

"Don't look at each other, don't blame each other, work hard every day to get the results back."

TEAMtalk Facebook Fan Page

The TEAMtalk fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

S

wap deal with ITV. Can't wait to see Stuart Pearce and Roy Keane giving each other the evils.

rambo
Southgate tipped for U-21 job

J

oe has signed John Scales instead.

rambo
Newcastle pull Douglas deal

D

oes the medical involve some sort of dressage event?

shabtastic
Carroll set for Hammers medical

Footer 365

Ligue 1: Fabio Capello links to PSG job played down by Russian Football Union

The Russian Football Union (RFU) have stressed Fabio Capello remains under contract after being linked to PSG.

Protesters hopeful over prices

A group of fans believe they have made positive progress in their campaign for lower Premier League ticket prices following a London protest.

Transfer news: Liverpool haven't bid for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Shakhtar Donetsk say

Shakhtar Donetsk claim there has been no approach from Liverpool for in-demand midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Mail Box

'Bye Sunderland' & More Fixtures Reaction

The afternoon mailbox has plenty more views on the fixture list. Plus, a sublime piece of skill from Emile Heskey, more cool 'ballers and dull football matches...

One Guy's Genuinely Irked About Fixtures

A Gooner in the Mailbox seems to genuinely think that the world/fixture computer is against his team. Sigh. That, plus more cool footballers & Mike Ashley: Supervillain...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved