VERMAELEN: BACK THE BOSS
dailystar
THOMAS VERMAELEN fears Arsenal are on the brink of tearing themselves apart.
Boss Arsene Wenger is under pressure like never before after the Gunners suffered Champions League embarrassment at the hands of Bayern Munich.
But captain Vermaelen insists Wenger is still the right man to lead the club and has urged team-mates and supporters to rally around the Frenchman or risk the club imploding on itself.
Vermaelen said: Am I shocked people are questioning whether Arsene is the right man for the job Yes, I am, actually.
You have to look at the long term. He is the right man for this club and we are all behind him. Of course we are not happy. We are disappointed.
We have to look at ourselves and stick together in difficult times. Dont look at each other. Dont blame each other. Work hard every day to get the results back.
The fans must not forget we need them. I can understand why they are frustrated. Sometimes as a player you get frustrated, too.
But its not the right way to act. We have to stick together. We need each other.
Wenger and the board took plenty of flak from angry fans on Tuesday after the 3-1 home defeat to Bayern.
Protests are planned at Saturdays Premier League clash with Aston Villa at the Emirates.
Arsenal have not won a trophy since 2005 and need a miracle in Munich in the second leg to keep their hopes of changing that in the Champions League alive.
Wenger gave his under-performing players the day off yesterday, despite his anger at the way they were outclassed by Bayern.
The Frenchman was so furious he snubbed his side after the defeat, locking himself away on his own for nearly half an hour.
In his absence, one insider described what he called heated exchanges taking place between some of the players. Vermaelen reckons they now owe their manager a performance against Villa.
He said: At the moment, the results are not good. But we will work hard to get the results back. It doesnt mean that because its not going well at the moment we dont stand behind him.
He will be hurt by this. You hurt as a player as well. You dont want to lose. We try our best. We are professionals.
We want to win games. Were not worried about a hangover in the Villa game. Weve come back strongly before and we will do again.
Boss Arsene Wenger is under pressure like never before after the Gunners suffered Champions League embarrassment at the hands of Bayern Munich.
But captain Vermaelen insists Wenger is still the right man to lead the club and has urged team-mates and supporters to rally around the Frenchman or risk the club imploding on itself.
Vermaelen said: Am I shocked people are questioning whether Arsene is the right man for the job Yes, I am, actually.
You have to look at the long term. He is the right man for this club and we are all behind him. Of course we are not happy. We are disappointed.
We have to look at ourselves and stick together in difficult times. Dont look at each other. Dont blame each other. Work hard every day to get the results back.
The fans must not forget we need them. I can understand why they are frustrated. Sometimes as a player you get frustrated, too.
But its not the right way to act. We have to stick together. We need each other.
Wenger and the board took plenty of flak from angry fans on Tuesday after the 3-1 home defeat to Bayern.
Protests are planned at Saturdays Premier League clash with Aston Villa at the Emirates.
Arsenal have not won a trophy since 2005 and need a miracle in Munich in the second leg to keep their hopes of changing that in the Champions League alive.
Wenger gave his under-performing players the day off yesterday, despite his anger at the way they were outclassed by Bayern.
The Frenchman was so furious he snubbed his side after the defeat, locking himself away on his own for nearly half an hour.
In his absence, one insider described what he called heated exchanges taking place between some of the players. Vermaelen reckons they now owe their manager a performance against Villa.
He said: At the moment, the results are not good. But we will work hard to get the results back. It doesnt mean that because its not going well at the moment we dont stand behind him.
He will be hurt by this. You hurt as a player as well. You dont want to lose. We try our best. We are professionals.
We want to win games. Were not worried about a hangover in the Villa game. Weve come back strongly before and we will do again.
