Wenger defends Arsenal’s 14-minute flight to Norwich

Matt Stead

Arsene Wenger has defended Arsenal’s decision to fly to this weekend’s opponents Norwich in a journey which will take 14 minutes.

A bus journey would take two and a half hours for the North Londoners to get to Carrow Road, with a train journey taking two hours.

However Arsenal will instead take a 14-minute flight for the 100-miles journey, angering campaigners.

“When we made the decision there was some road work planned – sometimes the access to Norwich is difficult,” Wenger insisted.

“We do not fly a lot any more. We take the train or coach. This is an exception.”

The Gunners have chosen flown to East Anglia for games previously.

Jennifer Parkhouse, of Norwich and Norfolk Friends of the Earth, told the Daily Mail: “They appear to live in some kind of a bubble, entirely separate from the rest of us.”

Meanwhile, Ella Gilbert, spokesperson for Plane Stupid, told the Evening Standard: “Having lived in Norwich and Finsbury Park, I can tell you that this is a distance that you can do in two hours by train, without fuelling climate change. This is ridiculous.

“I’m a life-long Gooner so I’m used to being occasionally embarrassed by my team, but I prefer them to wait until after kick-off before humiliating their supporters.

“Don’t fly to Norwich, the Canaries aren’t worth it.”