Wenger - FA face tough task

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 1st December 2007

arsene wenger arsenal manager

Wenger: Tough task

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Arsenal boss predicts difficult manager hunt

Arsene Wenger believes the Football Association have missed their chance to appoint Martin O'Neill as manager of England.

The Arsenal boss takes his side O'Neill's Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League and he believes the appointment would 'satisfy everybody'.

However, Wenger believes O'Neill - who has distanced himself from rumours linking him to succeed sacked former England manager Steve McClaren - does not want the job.

O'Neill is thought to have been among those contending for the England manager's job when McClaren was appointed in 2006.

Problem

And Wenger believes the FA's decision to previously overlook O'Neill has deterred the Villa boss.

"Martin O'Neill is slowly getting there with Villa, and he would satisfy everybody - but he doesn't want it (the England job)," said Wenger.

"I feel that the basic problem England have this time is that people who are now in contention for you were in contention for the first time, and were not chosen.

"Now they say, 'You did not want to take me first time so now I don't want it'."