Arsene Wenger Risking Destroying His Arsenal Legacy, Says Former England Defender

Ex-England defender Danny Mills has said Arsene Wenger is risking "destroying his legacy" at Arsenal, while Phil Neville suggested the club are at a crisis point and "big changes" are needed. The Gunners suffered their second Premier League defeat from three matches this season when they were beaten 4-0 at Liverpool on Sunday.

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry described the performance as "unwatchable" while Gary Neville was scathing in his assessment.

Ex-England defender Mills told The Debate on Sky Sports Premier Leaguethat Wenger, who joined the club in 1996, is putting his entire legacy in danger this season.

"It's like that boxer having one too many fights and it going wrong," he said. "If this is a really bad season, and they finish seventh or eighth, and don't win anything, then that's what Arsene will be remembered for.

"My worry would be that it destroys his legacy and everything he has achieved. It will be soured and his legacy will be tarnished."

Mills added: "There is no fear in playing against Arsenal anymore and that's a massive change. I almost think it's an arrogance in Arsene Wenger or the players thinking they are too good.

"West Brom or Huddersfield can be organised and make themselves difficult to beat and they are, without being disrespectful, nowhere near as good technically as Arsenal. Is Arsene Wenger not prepared to tell his players to do that or are the players not prepared to do that themselves?"

Wenger, who signed a new two-year deal at the end of last season, has come in for criticism for his team selection against Liverpool.

Neville does not think the manager is the only person to blame for Arsenal's struggles, but says these are worrying times for the Gunners.

"I don't think the finger should be pointed solely at Arsene Wenger," he said. "The foundations are totally wrong and are crumbling. When they lost 8-2 to Manchester United [in 2011] it didn't feel as bad as this.

"Now it seems like a crisis, a moment in the club's history when you think something has to change, whether that's the manager, the board, the players…There have to be big changes."

Credit: Skysports

Comments

Juventus Manager Allegri Signs Contract Extension Untill 2020

Massimiliano Allegri has signed a new contract with Juventus, keeping him with the Serie A side until 2020, the Turin outfit have confirmed. The 49-year-old will remain at Juventus Stadium for another three seasons, having guided the Old Lady to a third successive domestic double. Allegri helped Juve win the Serie A and Copa Italia titles this season, and guided them to the Champions League final. Since taking over at Juventus Stadium in 2014, he has won the domestic double each season and has a 69 per cent winning rate. The former midfielder had been linked with a move to Arsenal before Arsene Wenger agreed a new two-year deal, but will now remain in Turin until the end of the 2019-20 season. In a statement, Juventus said: "Juventus is pleased to announce that Massimiliano Allegri has signed a contract renewal at the club until 2020. "Today's agreement extends a working relationship that has seen the Bianconeri consolidate their position as Italy's...

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Could Make Man United Return this Year, Says Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is confident Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be available for Manchester United before the end of the year. The Swedish striker - who has been regularly updating his Instagram followers of his rehabilitation from a knee injury - has this week begun doing some very light ball work with the club's coaching staff at Carrington. Ibrahimovic signed a new one-year deal at United on August 24 after the first serious injury of his career cut short a stellar first season at Old Trafford earlier this year. The player's doctor Freddie Fu has warned against rushing his return and United boss Jose Mourinho had previously suggested he will not play for the club in January but has reassessed that prediction. "(Paul) Pogba is not here I don't know when he will be back," he said. "Zlatan is working under our control here as I would expect. He is working so, so hard but he won't be back in the next week or the next couple of weeks. "He nee...

Barcelona Summer Signing Ousmane Dembele Suffers Fresh Injury Blow

Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele is set to be on the sidelines for around "three to four weeks" after suffering a fresh hamstring injury during the Catalan's 4-2 victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday. The 20-year-old winger moved to the Nou Camp from Borussia Dortmund during the summer transfer window in deal worth £93.4m plus €40m in add-ons. The Frenchman spent more than three months on the sidelines as a result before returning to action during Barcelona's 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo in La Liga on 4 January.Earlier on September Dembele was indeed forced to undergo a surgery after rupturing the "tendon in his femoral bicep in his left thigh" during a clash with Getafe when he was only making his third appearance for the club. Dembele has since made three more appearances, playing 25 minutes during the win over Real Sociedad after replacing Paulinho in the second half. But the Frenchman will miss the upcoming games after Barcelona revealed that th...

Plauseorminus

Search This Blog