Jack Wilshere says Arsene Wenger not to blame for defeats

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Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere says boss Arsene Wenger's position cannot be questioned and the players have to take responsibility for poor results.

The Gunners' hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals were hit by a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Last Saturday, Arsenal lost 1-0 in the FA Cup against Championship Blackburn.

Wilshere said: "The boss has been here for 16 years and he's been doing a great job so you can't question him."

Arsenal are fifth in the Premier League, four points behind Tottenham, who occupy the last Champions League qualifying spot.

The Champions League is the Gunners' only chance of claiming a trophy this season, as they are 21 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United and were also knocked out of the Capital One Cup in the quarter-finals by League Two side Bradford.

But Wilshere told ITV Sport the players have to turn things around.

He said: "A manager can put us on the pitch and motivate us but we have to do it when we're on the pitch. But we're starting badly and getting punished for it.

"I think the players will take responsibility, we're man enough to take it."

Wenger has refused to give up on his team's Champions League hopes - despite seeing his side comfortably beaten by Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

However, the Arsenal boss admitted the Gunners may have an easier task qualifying for next year's Champions League than staying in this season's tournament.

"Let's not hide the truth," said Wenger. "It will be extremely difficult against a team of their quality. We have to give our best in Germany and hope things go for us.

"We have two battles and maybe the easier battle will be to be back in the Champions League next season, but we have to give absolutely everything and try to change things in the second leg."

Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller gave Bayern control with two early goals, Lukas Podolski pulled a goal back for Arsenal but Mario Mandzukic's scrambled third left the Gunners needing a big win in the second leg in Munich on 13 March.

Wenger added: "We played against a very good team who took advantage of every opportunity they created in the first half. We were a bit nervous, Bayern were full of confidence and we paid for it.

"When we got it back to 2-1 it looked like we could make it 2-2. But once they made it 3-1 it looked like Bayern could get another goal because we didn't keep our structure and the last 10 minutes were very difficult.

"We had a good response in the second half and the players gave absolutely everything. They came up against a team that had no doubts at all.

"They have a history in the last six months where everything is positive. You could see every one of their players was confident to play at full power and confidence - it is not our case at the moment.

"But things sometimes change quickly in three weeks so let's hope we can do it."

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551 comments

  • Comment posted by Captain Hindsight, at 09:25 20 Feb 2013

    @7 Yes and he's sold our best players and reinvested in poor replacements. He's embarked on a wage bill that costs the club at least £30m per annum on deadwood, who can't then be shifted because of their lucrative contracts. He's made us barely competitors for fourth place in what is a seriously weakened EPL. No divine right? You are a sheep then. That was the point of the move from Highbury...

  • Comment posted by jack adams, at 09:34 20 Feb 2013

    @50 Captain Hindsight is the sort of gooner I could listen to all day. The hammer blow was: That was the point of the move from Highbury...

    Most Arsenal fans are desperately deluded because they think being trophyless for years on end, creeping into fourth place, losing key games and having a squad, let alone a team, that justn't doesn't look credible is the result of brilliant management.

  • Comment posted by SpearMaster, at 10:21 20 Feb 2013

    Over a period of time, a team sells most of its best players and buys in / develops inferior replacements; that team goes into decline. No surprise there then. If AW is primarily responsible for this, then he has to accept the potential consequences; if he isn't, Arsenal fans, then this is where it's at.

  • Comment posted by Bradybunch1967, at 12:16 20 Feb 2013

    Pafc wake up and smell the roses! We are getting precisely none of the names on your list. We are a 2nd tier club, there are a limited number of world class players to go round. Our biggest threat is holding onto the likes of Wilshere. I've followed Arsenal for over 30 years, we have had lean years before. Time for the club to plan a new era. Hope Wengers goes before his reply gets too tarnished

  • Comment posted by U15436561, at 10:46 20 Feb 2013

    I think Arsene should have concentrated on winning against Blackburn and aiming for at least some silverware, because its highly unlikely were gonna win against Bayern or even the Champs League

  • Comment posted by U14070025, at 09:09 20 Feb 2013

    Wilshere is right. You do not question Arsene, nor do you look at him even though it's his press conference.

  • Comment posted by U14762864, at 09:38 20 Feb 2013

    Sorry, but who are the "fans" the press keep referring to? The rich kids who can afford the tickets?, the glory boys that started supporting us 10 years ago when we were winning? I've been a fan 30 years and understand our situation. Bills to pay! 4th is our main goal till we pay for our stadium. I'm not at all impatient about trophies. Getting rid of Wenger is a press decision, not real fans.

  • Comment posted by Dave, at 13:00 20 Feb 2013

    Maybe people are starting to realise the myth of Wenger:

    8 - trophies won by AW whilst the back 4 (built by George Graham) of Adams, Dixon, Keown, Winterburn all still in the side
    4 - trophies won during the transition years as those players left
    0 - trophies won since

    AW's success at Arsenal was achieved on the foundations of George Graham. No team built on AW's foundations has won anything.

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 11:23 20 Feb 2013

    @ 197. Never Outgunned

    We have many great individuals???

    Many? Who are these many?

  • Comment posted by blues12bar, at 09:21 20 Feb 2013

    no arsenal fan, but wanted them to win last night. however, frustrated the hell out of me watching them trying to walk the ball into the net. Bayern gave a master class in using the ball, down the wings, cross in, shot on goal. Arsenal play this intricate passing game going nowhere for long periods of the game. Seems to me that Arsenal need a good old CF as a target man.

  • Comment posted by bored23, at 16:19 20 Feb 2013

    518.Balancedguy

    well said.

    517.GoFigure
    I know, they have well and truely succeeded today as well lol!

  • Comment posted by bored23, at 13:19 20 Feb 2013

    318.Kapnag

    But can u not see that is the problem? Arsenal seem to be happy with settling for top 4 every season.

    The point is Wenger sold them yes,but he has failed to replace them, and that is his fault.

    Ur right he has done well with the crop he has, but a club of AFC's stature should not be happy with top 4 every year,more is needed + I think wenger has proved he isnt capable of more!

  • Comment posted by Samual5200, at 12:21 20 Feb 2013

    Arsenal need a few players to come in, not to necessarily to spend big, but when you look at some of the deals going on you wonder why Arsenal didn't go for the player. Names of the top of my head? Well..

    - Sissoko to Newcastle
    - Ba to Chelsea
    - Cesar to QPR
    - Yanga-Mbiwa to Newcastle
    - Zaha to United
    - Sturridge to Liverpool..

    The list is endless.. Wenger, where are you?

  • Comment posted by conradk, at 11:37 20 Feb 2013

    Arsenal can no longer compete as a top four team, it's a given that City and Utd will take up two places for the foreseeable future and the there's Tottenham, Chelsea and even Everton are looking sharper. For the last three seasons Wenger's sold the best players in his squad and replaced them with mediocre ones. Yes he did a great job but eight years with only CL qualification isn't enough now.

  • Comment posted by U15544205, at 15:46 20 Feb 2013

    MESSAGE TO PL MANAGERS:

    This is the equation: core of British players + foreign talent = a team that possesses heart and desire, but with additional skills nurtured overseas = the successful formula for a PL side.

    However, mainly foreign talent + token non-influential home-grown names = collection of separate entities = unsuccessful PL side.

    MU balance this perfectly, so DID Chelski.

  • Comment posted by U15068775, at 15:14 20 Feb 2013

    Let's get real here, are we supposed to be satisfied by 8 seasons without a trophy and fighting for a place in the top 4 of the PL and champions league qualification; or should we be setting our sights higher? As an Arsenal supporter for over 50 years I think we should. We have the stadium, the fans and the money. Our problem- failing management, inferior squad, lack of belief and ambition.

  • Comment posted by bored23, at 14:42 20 Feb 2013

    397.James

    Fair play you are talking nonsense lol.

    JW is very good agreed, but to say Bale or Walcott would not be missed is one of the craziest comments ive seen on here!

    Id take Bale over JW any day of the week!

  • Comment posted by U15535073, at 13:56 20 Feb 2013

    341.James

    'Bale is incapable and inconsistent'

    Honestly you do make me laugh, what a silly thing to say.

  • Comment posted by bored23, at 13:54 20 Feb 2013

    362.SadMcBain

    Can I see your crystal ball please?

    Seriously what is wrong with people like you! We were told that Madrid wud give Utd a lesson last week but that didnt happen but hey dont let that cloud your judgement!

    Utd at home to Bayern would more than hold their own and u know it! Utd taught AFC a lesson earlier this season the same way Bayern did!

  • Comment posted by Weallfollowunited, at 12:49 20 Feb 2013

    #277
    He is highly regarded but surely he's not above having questions asked of him? Arsenal's squad at the moment is packed with average players, the vast majority of which he signed and therefore considered good enough to play for Arsenal.

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