Sunday 18 September 2011

Carry On Wenger....



Arsène Wenger vowed to carry on despite labelling Arsenal's start to the season "terrible" following another defeat, shipping four goals to struggling Blackburn Rovers.

The 4-3 setback at Ewood Park on Saturday left Arsenal with just four points from five league games.

They remain without a Premier League away win in seven attempts and have now conceded 12 times in their last two domestic away matches.

And Wenger did not hold back after watching his side twice blow the lead against a Blackburn Rovers side that had begun the day rooted to the foot of the table.

"At the moment we are not capable of focusing for 90 minutes from a defensive point of view," said the bitterly frustrated Arsenal manager.

"When you are 2-1 up with the quality that we have, it is important that you don't give cheap goals away like we did."

Regarding his side's start to the season, Wenger added: "It's terrible. It's just not good enough and of course we are very frustrated.

"The number of goals we have conceded is just not good enough. On the other hand I believe the group will take off. But it's important we get good results."

Wenger said Arsenal were still nursing the psychological wounds inflicted by Manchester United in an 8-2 mauling at Old Trafford three weeks ago.

"At the moment defensively we are fragile because our confidence is gone due to what happened at Old Trafford," he said.

But Wenger brushed off suggestions that he may be tempted to consider his future at the club, where he was appointed manager 15 years ago this month.

"Speculation is part of modern life. My future is focusing on what I do well, which is give my best to the club," he said. "What can I do? Not talk too much."

Arsenal were on course for a first Premier League away win since April 10 when goals from Gervinho and Mikel Arteta put them 2-1 ahead at half-time at Ewood Park.

But Blackburn, without a win since the final day of last season, staged a remarkable comeback to storm into a 4-2 lead.

Former Everton striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu, who had scored his side's first, made it 3-2 after Arsenal's Alex Song had put through his own net to level the scores.

Another own goal by Laurent Koscielny made it 4-2 before substitute Marouane Chamakh scored a late consolation.

About 250 Blackburn fans marched before the game in protest at coach Steve Kean following Rovers' poor start to the season.

"I was disappointed with that," said Kean, who only took charge last December. "But even the people who did decide to demonstrate were fully behind the team when they came into the ground.

"I think 99 per cent of fans decided not to demonstrate. Hopefully the one per cent of fans who did demonstrate will go home happy after seeing what the lads are trying to do.

"I thought we were excellent and caused Arsenal all sorts of problems. The desire to win got us the points.

"Our second-half performance showed what we've got in that dressing room, which is 100 per cent team spirit. The boys were really working hard for each other.

"We've got character in the side. We've been unfortunate not to have more points but we've got character and we showed that last season.

"To play against Arsenal is so difficult. You have to run for the ball and they gave everything. But the most important thing was to get three points and it's a very good feeling. I think we deserved to win."

Blackburn lost defender Michel Salgado with a hamstring injury in the first half but Kean is confident the former Real Madrid fullback is not facing a prolonged spell on the sidelines.