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Football

25th Aug 2015

Arsene Wenger’s classy response to Gary Neville’s claims he is arrogant

Rebuke

Patrick McCarry

Thierry calls it confidence. Gaz calls it arrogance.

Arsene kept above the whole debate.

There was quite the debate about Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and his stead-fast love of centre midfielders… too many centre midfielders.

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville blasted the Frenchman for trying to fit square pegs into round holes, at the detriment of his side.

‘It’s the one big black mark I’ve got against Arsene Wenger in the last 10 years,’ Neville began.

‘It’s arrogance to think you can adapt your team to change to other team’s strengths. I believe it’s arrogance, why he [Wenger] won’t buy players of power to accompany his big players.’

Thierry Henry chimed in to defend the Gunners boss, stating that Wenger is simply confident in his tactics, and players. Neville did not agree.

‘It’s either arrogance or naivety,’ he proclaimed.

Following his side’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool, Wenger was asked about Neville’s comments.

He responded, ‘Look, I don’t know what that has to do with arrogance.

‘You find all kind of attributes for me since I’ve been here. I try just to do my job well for 20 years. I leave judgement to everybody else, the assessment of the quality of my work.

“When you don’t win, you’re wrong and people find reasons. Are they good reasons? I have enough experience to know when it’s right and when it’s wrong.’

Wenger added, ‘Everybody has his opinion. I could prove to you that it’s not necessarily right.’

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