Wenger: I would never park the bus
telegraph
I would never park the bus, insists Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger ahead of final home game of the season
Arsenal have missed out on the Premier League again but Arsène Wenger claims he would never revert to tactics used recently by rival manager Jose Mourinho
Arsène Wenger would never consider replicating Jose Mourinhos stifling tactics at Arsenal, despite his methods backfiring in spectacular fashion away from the Emirates Stadium this season.
Wengers side have conceded 17 goals in the decisive games at Manchester City (six), Liverpool (five) and Chelsea (six). Those heavy defeats have ensured Arsenal once again head towards the seasons finish line out of the title race and with just Champions League qualification as a potential reward for their Premier League campaign.
However, Wenger, who claimed on Friday that he would not embark on a spending spree this summer, has also vowed not to rip up his approach to vital games and adopt a more cautious approach favoured by managers like Mourinho, who was accused of parking two buses in his recent win at Liverpool.
Wenger has always favoured a more attacking approach, which famously brought dividends in the 2003-04 Invincibles season. Yet teams, and times, have caught up with the Frenchman when it most mattered this season.
We conceded too many goals in some of these games, Wenger said. But overall our policy is to try to play our game because its the qualities of our players that matter.
I think the system of the team is to adapt to the quality of the players because we have so many offensive players in the squad.
We just play to our strengths. It doesnt always work unfortunately. You have to go for a style and sometimes you can change your style.
The regret is that defensively we have not been strong enough in these games. Certainly we have to analyse why but it was special circumstances because at Chelsea we conceded early goals and played with 10 men.
"The only real bad performance we had where you can say yes we were outplayed on the day was against Liverpool. But on the other hand we have twice beaten Liverpool in home games.
A style is a long-term plan. On the short-term you can always change of course because its all dictated by the confidence of the team and the confidence of the team is dictated by the results.
You cannot swim against the stream. Sometimes the team needs to be reassured by being a bit less ambitious and a bit less offensive then you have to go for it because its part of a reassurance process.
With an FA Cup final against Hull City looming, Wenger could have the luxury of resting key men for the final-day visit to the relegation-threatened Norwich City.
That is likely to include Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) and Jack Wilshere (foot). The England midfielders will remain on the treatment table for the game against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday and for the remainder of the season, although Wenger is confident that both will be fit for the World Cup finals in Brazil.
Our target is to make maximum points until the rest of the season no matter what the result here will be, the manager said. I will absolutely try to achieve that. As well as Arsenal Football Club we have a responsibility to be fair even if it goes well for us.
Arsenal have missed out on the Premier League again but Arsène Wenger claims he would never revert to tactics used recently by rival manager Jose Mourinho
Arsène Wenger would never consider replicating Jose Mourinhos stifling tactics at Arsenal, despite his methods backfiring in spectacular fashion away from the Emirates Stadium this season.
Wengers side have conceded 17 goals in the decisive games at Manchester City (six), Liverpool (five) and Chelsea (six). Those heavy defeats have ensured Arsenal once again head towards the seasons finish line out of the title race and with just Champions League qualification as a potential reward for their Premier League campaign.
However, Wenger, who claimed on Friday that he would not embark on a spending spree this summer, has also vowed not to rip up his approach to vital games and adopt a more cautious approach favoured by managers like Mourinho, who was accused of parking two buses in his recent win at Liverpool.
Wenger has always favoured a more attacking approach, which famously brought dividends in the 2003-04 Invincibles season. Yet teams, and times, have caught up with the Frenchman when it most mattered this season.
We conceded too many goals in some of these games, Wenger said. But overall our policy is to try to play our game because its the qualities of our players that matter.
I think the system of the team is to adapt to the quality of the players because we have so many offensive players in the squad.
We just play to our strengths. It doesnt always work unfortunately. You have to go for a style and sometimes you can change your style.
The regret is that defensively we have not been strong enough in these games. Certainly we have to analyse why but it was special circumstances because at Chelsea we conceded early goals and played with 10 men.
"The only real bad performance we had where you can say yes we were outplayed on the day was against Liverpool. But on the other hand we have twice beaten Liverpool in home games.
A style is a long-term plan. On the short-term you can always change of course because its all dictated by the confidence of the team and the confidence of the team is dictated by the results.
You cannot swim against the stream. Sometimes the team needs to be reassured by being a bit less ambitious and a bit less offensive then you have to go for it because its part of a reassurance process.
With an FA Cup final against Hull City looming, Wenger could have the luxury of resting key men for the final-day visit to the relegation-threatened Norwich City.
That is likely to include Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) and Jack Wilshere (foot). The England midfielders will remain on the treatment table for the game against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday and for the remainder of the season, although Wenger is confident that both will be fit for the World Cup finals in Brazil.
Our target is to make maximum points until the rest of the season no matter what the result here will be, the manager said. I will absolutely try to achieve that. As well as Arsenal Football Club we have a responsibility to be fair even if it goes well for us.
