LONDON: Humiliated after Arsenal conceded the most goals in a game since the 19th century, Arsene Wenger began plotting how to turn around the beleaguered team’s fortunes during the two-week international break.
The 8-2 thrashing at Manchester United on Sunday left Arsenal with just a solitary point after three matches of the Premier League season and plunged Wenger into the deepest crisis of his 15-year reign.
Such was the sense of contrition at Arsenal on Monday that fans who traveled to Old Trafford were told they would be offered the compensation of having a future away match ticket paid for.
Those fans have not seen Arsenal lift a cup for six years and are growing increasingly restless at the team’s lack of competitiveness.
Not since 1896 have the Gunners leaked eight goals in a game, with Loughborough Town winning a second-tier match 8-0 on Dec. 12.
Now the pressure is on for the team to produce a stirring response on Sept. 10 at home to newcomer Swansea before beginning the Champions League group stage.
“The players go away for two weeks and maybe that is a good thing,” Wenger said Monday on Arsenal’s website. “When they come back we’ll have to prepare. Big scores are humiliating and difficult to swallow but I don’t think they have a special meaning. They are always under special circumstances.” Captain Robin van Persie, who had a penalty saved against United when Arsenal was trailing 1-0, said the players shouldn’t look for excuses.
“I don’t think we can hide behind injuries or suspensions,” the striker said. “It is no excuse. They had injuries too, this is football.”
And this was a harsh lesson for an Arsenal side often excused for its youth but that had an average age of 23 like United’s on Sunday.
“We were poor defensively but there were points in the game where we had quality,” Wenger said. “It is better not to talk too much about this because it hurts.”
Following six trophyless seasons discontent is boiling over at Arsenal, but Wenger says he is not about to quit. (Agencies)