Arsenal meandered to a 1-0 win against Norwich City at the Emirates on Saturday, as a number of fans groups staged a rather uninspiring protest at yet another season of underachievement.
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In a pre-planned protest at the Emirates Stadium, a smattering of fans held up A4 posters bearing the words “TIME FOR CHANGE” in the 12th minute of the game, in a nod to Arsenal’s 12-year league title drought.
“Norwich played very well”, Wenger is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. There are disappointed people because we didn’t win the league.
Xhaka is one of the most highly rated midfielders in the German top flight, and this news will come as a big blow to Arsenal and Wenger.
Redknapp believes the club’s board must have a conversation regarding Wenger’s future at the end of the season, but predicts the manager will remain in charge if Arsenal secure Champions League qualification. “You want to make the fans happy. We continue to work hard to achieve it”.
Wenger was boosted by the fact that the protest sparked loud chants of “One Arsene Wenger” among other home fans, but he -insisted that he was willing to accept the criticism as long as it did not turn into abuse.
ARSENAL ( 4-2-3-1): Cech 7; Bellerin 6, Mertesacker 5 (Gabriel 51, 6), Koscielny 6, Monreal 5; Elneny 6, Ramsey 5; Iwobi 5 (Welbeck 56, 7), Sanchez 5 (Coquelin 84), Ozil 6; Giroud 5.
Within four minutes, the striker got on the end of an Olivier Giroud knock-down to score the victor and lift Arsenal into third with two games to play.
It was put to Wenger that even Sir Alex -Ferguson went through more than one spell when Manchester United fans called for him to go.
Defeat for Norwich leaves Alex Neil’s side 19th and two points adrift of safety, but still holding a game in hand over Newcastle United in 17th.
Arsenal established a provisional eight-point cushion over the teams below the Champions League places, ahead of next weekend’s high-stakes trip to Manchester City, who trail them by three points ahead of their trip to Southampton on Sunday.
But with the Canaries winless in their last 11 Premier League games against London teams (D4, L7) since beating Tottenham at home in February 2014, there was not too much to hope for in their bid to avoid the dreaded drop.
“The frustrating part is that he doesn’t say much and I’d love a strong personality running the club, but don’t see that being the real problem”.
“It is very frustrating because we were in a position for a long, long time where we could compete for the title”.
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“We all have the responsibility this season”, he said.
