In defence of Wenger

With an article in the News of the World claiming that an unnamed insider says that Arsene Wenger does not know what he is doing, Patrick Barclay comes to his defence.

"It is funny because when you read that sort of thing my mind went back to a similar headline in Christmas 1997,"says Patrick Barclay of the Sunday Telegraph

"It was Wenger's first Christmas and the papers said that the club was in chaos, that this unknown manager from Monaco was making a mess of things and there was a big split between the English players and the French.

"I think Arsene Wenger knows exactly what he is doing, he is the best manager that has ever come to this country. I think he was wrong to pick Philippe Senderos last week - in my opinion he had a bad day at the office.

"He is about to go three seasons without winning anything, but that happens. The fact is that all season they have been threatening to win something, that is the most important thing."

"Well I think it is," adds Barclay when Brian says that it is not. "Why do you think they brought Keegan back to Newcastle? Because they remember the great days when they were nearly winning things, and that is good enough. As long as you are in contention."

Barclay however does not agree with Wenger when he claimed this week that Arsenal got more bad decisions than any other club.

"No, I don't think that is true. I can understand him thinking that the world is against him, but it isn't. There is no conspiracy against them but they are certainly due a change of luck on these penalties."