Wenger lifts Christmas pressure off Arsenal stars

Of course everyone connected with arsenal was not happy about the fact that we have just lost two Premier League games in a row after the longest unbeaten run in the league of 14 games. And because all of the clubs around us managed to win their games while we lost, Arsenal’s position in the EPL table looks much worse in fourth place and nine points off the top than it had in second and just three behind Chelsea.

But Arsene Wenger clearly does not want to be too hard on his players and he does not want them to waste too much time dwelling on those last two games and what went wrong in them. In the preview of tomorrow’s match against West Brom on the Arsenal website, the Frenchman reminded his squad that all clubs will have good and bad parts of a season and that it is the way that we respond to the various setbacks that is the most important thing.

He also admitted that one big part of the job of a football manager is to lift the spirits of the players when things have not gone according to plan so he will be hoping that all of the Gunners can enjoy their christmasses without beating themselves up about the defeats away to Everton and Man City.

He said, “It is part of our job to do that and you know that when you go into a season it will not only be satisfaction. The disappointments are part of a successful season – that’s part of our environment.

“It’s how you respond to it that of course makes your destiny and that’s what we want to do well. I believe that of course in 20 games we lost two, and it is very difficult because we are not used to that, but as well we have to put it into perspective and fight for the next one.”

We will see whether Wenger has been successful in lifting the players’ spirits over christmas when Tony Pulis and the Baggies arrive at the Emirates tomorrow.

Bob.