A look at Arsenal’s week in quotes.
Short lived jubilation after Arsenal beat Lincoln 5-0 in the FA Cup returned to normal apathy following their performance against West Brom.
Speaking after the win over the Imps, Wenger spoke about nothing ever being good enough and having to get used to that fact.
“You have to accept that nothing is good enough, you have to live with that,” said Wenger after the win over Lincoln.
“People brainwash you with what they think is right.
“It is interesting when you see all the conclusions that come out of the game.
“And the same people that speak after the game said with 10 minutes to go that PSG were absolutely outstanding.
“Ten minutes later, they are absolutely rubbish. It is always interesting to take a distance. To get out of that heated atmosphere and look at things in an objective way.
“Sometimes it confirms what people say. Sometimes it doesn’t. It’s down to me to take the right distance. People are right and people are wrong as well.
“I managed about 2,000 games. I might know a little bit about the game as well.
“The importance of the game has become bigger.
“You cannot escape any more. When you’re a football player, even if you don’t read, they tell you what people say.
“Maybe 30 years ago, the guy who lost a game has one journalist who went with the players to the pub and had a beer and sometimes two or three or four or five more.
“The world has changed. But no matter what happens in the future, you always have to lose games.
“I cannot guarantee we will win all the games. We are in the semi-final of the FA Cup. How many times have we been?”
Midweek there were reports that Wenger’s right-hand man, Boro Primorac, was leaving at the end of the season, which have since been denied.
“That’s a complete invention,” the boss said ahead of West Brom. “It’s good today. You say anything and everybody takes it without checking any information. Everybody just takes and takes it and makes a subject. It’s not serious. Fake news!”
Elsewhere, Primorac himself claimed that Wenger’s not leaving Arsenal.
“Wenger isn’t considering leaving Arsenal,” Primorac said. “Of course it is tough to lose 5-1 twice in the first in Munich and then at the Emirates, even though it came versus Bayern.
“It’s not easy in the Premier League, here each of the 20 clubs can win. Wenger’s Arsenal brought home a long revival but that buzz word, ‘Wenger knows’. I really know.
“We understand how fans are not happy, neither are we. But as for critics, there are no less grateful persons in football than fans and ex-players.
“Arsenal’s strength in the past 20 years has been Wenger. It is not all about results, but also business part of the club that matters.”
About his own exit rumours, Primorac said, “There have been many similar stories in the past 20 years since I’ve been working with Wenger. As for the Club in Turkey, it does not even cross my mind [Konyaspor].”
Ahead of the Gunners’ trip to the Hawthorns, Wenger spoke of his surprise over Mohamed Elneny’s recovery from injury despite him being right on track.
“No [I didn’t expect him to return so quickly], because at the start it looked like it was a very bad ankle injury. He has recovered well because he’s a very strong boy and very keen to come back as quickly as possible. It worked well for him.”
After the 3-1 loss to the Baggies, Wenger claimed that he’s made a decision on whether he’ll stay at Arsenal next season but wouldn’t reveal what this was, simply saying, “I know what I will do in my future and will let you know soon. You will see.”
Meanwhile, experienced football agent, Esteve Calzada, revealed that he believes Arsenal are still a step behind Manchester United. And he’s probably right.
“After what happened recently [against Bayern Munich in the Champions League], there is more and more talk about Arsenal not being a winning team anymore,” he said.
“It has been a long time with no [big] trophies. It is a very popular club, of course, but United is a different animal. Even without being successful lately, they keep on growing their commercial revenues, as the brand is so strong. Arsenal definitely one step behind United in terms of size, and in terms of potential that he can realise.”
Finally, we have to close with Arsene Wenger giving a different answer to the ‘have you made a decision yet’ question while still managing to keep us all in the dark. “Don’t worry, I know what I will do in my future so you will soon know, very soon,” Wenger said after a 3-1 loss at The Hawthorns.