sports
Wenger hits back at Henry over ‘angry fans’ row
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says no fans are happy see their team lose at home. – Reuters pic, March 5, 2016.Arsene Wenger has slammed Thierry Henry's claim that Arsenal supporters have never been as angry as they were following their side's shock defeat against Swansea.
Arsenal's challenge for the Premier League title suffered a major blow on Wednesday when they lost 2-1 at home to struggling Swansea just days after a damaging 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.
Gunners boss Wenger saw his decision to replace Joel Campbell jeered by the frustrated fans inside the Emirates Stadium, with more boos ringing out at the final whistle.
And ahead of Saturday's crucial north London derby at Spurs, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who is the team's record goalscorer and now works as an academy coach at the club, said Arsenal fans were as angry as he had ever seen during the game.
Wenger was clearly vexed when asked about his fellow Frenchman's comments and he hit back by insisting no fans are happy see their team lose at home, with their furious reaction a normal act of frustration.
"I would like not to comment on that and I say to people what I think face-to-face," Wenger said when asked if Henry's comments would make matters worse with restless fans.
"I don't want to comment on that, it doesn't help us to win tomorrow (at Spurs). Thierry Henry will not play tomorrow for Arsenal. His comments are like any other comments, they cannot help us to win, nor be an excuse to lose. We have to focus on ourselves.
"You cannot say they were never as angry as that. Who can measure that, who can compare that? Do you want your fans to be happy to lose a game? Where do you see that?
"So, it doesn't look to me (like) a major statement. Our fans are unhappy, I am unhappy, we're all unhappy and if you were in our dressing room after the game you would see that we are absolutely devastated to lose the game.
"The players, nobody moved for minutes and minutes. It's normal. Why do you want people to be happy when you lose? It's quite remarkable that you are shocked by statements like that." – AFP, March 5, 2016.
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