Sunday 11 March 2018 09:06, UK
Arsene Wenger claims he would have to be "even more mad" to discuss Troy Deeney's negative comments about his Arsenal side ahead of Sunday's Sky live clash with Watford
Watford captain Deeney controversially commented on Arsenal's attitude following a 2-1 win over Wenger's side back in October.
Deeney hammered home a penalty after Richarlison went down under little contact from Hector Bellerin, with Tom Cleverley completing the comeback win with a last-minute strike.
Speaking after the game, Deeney said: "I've heard Wenger's already blaming (the decision) as the reason why they lost.
"I'm not going to be the one to tell Mr Wenger about himself, but there's a reason why they lost and it wasn't because of one penalty.
"I'll have to watch what I say. It's (having) a bit of cojones, a bit of nuts."
Wenger, whose side recovered from four damaging defeats to win 2-0 at AC Milan in the first-leg of a Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday night, refused to be drawn into a war of words with Deeney.
"You don't think we've had enough controversy in the last week? We don't need to add some more," he said when asked about Deeney's remarks.
"We want to focus on how we play rather than what people say. What we can do is just respond with the quality of our performance. We're not going to focus on what people say.
"You understand that if you respond to every single statement, I would be mad. I may already be but I would be even more mad."
Wenger is keen to build on the win in Milan with another victory over Watford that the Frenchman believes will help re-establish confidence in his squad.
"Let's just focus on playing our game and winning again," he added. "It's important to win and then win again to build up the belief. That's absolutely vital.
"Judgement is judgement and we have to focus on the quality of our game. Our games are not as bad as everybody has said, but we have to live with that.
"You don't think we've had enough controversy in the last week? We don't need to add some more," he said when asked about Deeney's remarks.
"We want to focus on how we play rather than what people say. What we can do is just respond with the quality of our performance. We're not going to focus on what people say.
"You understand that if you respond to every single statement, I would be mad I may already be but I would be even more mad."
