LONDON: Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes has urged Arsenal supporters to stop criticising Arsene Wenger (pictured) because the Gunners boss can no longer compete financially with English football’s big spenders.
Wenger has been under increasing pressure this season and heads into today’s Champions League last 16 first leg against Bayern desperately needing to win the competition after an eight-year trophy drought.
The Frenchman was already feeling the heat following Arsenal’s embarrassing League Cup exit to Bradford in December and the criticism went up a notch following their shock FA Cup defeat to second-tier Blackburn on Saturday.
With their Premier League title aspirations long gone, some sections of the Gunners’ support have called on Wenger to resign.
But Heynckes believes his opposite number should not shoulder the blame while the likes of Chelsea, ManUnited and Man City out-spend Arsenal every year. “Arsenal are a great team and Arsene Wenger is a very good coach. You can see his team has a very great dynamic about it,” Heynckes said at a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“You have to take into consideration Arsenal are competing with Chelsea, Man United and chester City.“Over the years Arsenal have been selling their best players while these other teams get in top world stars. So I don’t think it is fair to blame Arsene Wenger for that. Take away the recent game against Blackburn, they are fifth in the league and they have played a lot of positive football in the Champions League.” AFP
