Gunners take a mauling but Wenger calm
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Shanghai Daily, August 30, 2011
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was facing the biggest crisis of career after Sunday's 8-2 mauling by Manchester United but the Frenchman vowed not to panic on the field or in the transfer market with fans questioning his future for the first time.
Wenger took over in 1996 and revolutionized Arsenal's style of play, turning the London side from defensive long-ball merchants to one of Europe's most exciting outfits.
It was the club's heaviest league defeat since 1927 and raised further questions about Wenger's philosophy of evolving teams rather than making the kind of marquee signings that have transformed Manchester City into title contenders, and follows the departures of top Gunners Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri with quality replacements nowhere to be seen.
It has been without a win from the first three league games.
"No not at all," Wenger said when asked if he was considering his position. "What is to turn around? We played three games in the season."
His injury and suspension-ravaged side was ripped apart at Old Trafford, with Wayne Rooney bagging a hat-trick to reach 152 United goals and Ashley Young grabbing a superb brace.
Even when the likes of Gervinho and Thomas Vermaelen return for Arsenal, Wenger is still well short of quality personnel with just three days left in the transfer window.
A move for Monaco's South Korea striker Park Chu-Young is almost done and Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill is a target but Wenger risked the wrath of frustrated fans by implying big buys might not be arriving. "I know that in England when you lose a game signings are always the solution," he said. "We had eight players out today."
Arsenal supporters are not amused and golfer Ian Poulter told Twitter: "You owe your fans an explanation & your players an apology for humiliating them. Rebuild or get out."
It was only the sixth time a team has scored eight goals in a Premier League match. "You feel always humiliated when you concede eight goals," added Wenger, who won the Premier League in 1998, 2002 and 2004.
"It was a terrible day for us. Man United had class but every single shot in the first half went in."
United boss Alex Ferguson felt sorry for his counterpart. "It is (a shock) because when you play Arsenal you expect a difficult game. If you look at Arsenal the team is weakened," he said. "I think it is unfair to criticize him (given) the job he has done for Arsenal and the philosophy he has."
Spurs rout
United's big-spending local rival Manchester City also produced a fine performance on Sunday to rout Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 in north London.
Less than six months after captivating Europe with dazzling Champions League displays, Tottenham is rock bottom of the Premier League and manager Harry Redknapp is frustrated with life at White Hart Lane.
"I feel we've had a terrible preseason, there's been a feeling around the place," Redknapp said. "Its not been right. People going, people wanting to go."
Less than two hours before Sunday's match, Redknapp had to force Luka Modric to play after reports of Chelsea's pursuit of the Croatia playmaker.
"He told me he didn't feel his head was right," Redknapp said. "I told him he needed to play. I had injuries in midfield, he's our main man."
But Redknapp feels Modric's "head has been turned" with reports of a 40-million pound (US$65 million) Chelsea bid. "While he still sees a chink of light to go to Chelsea, he is probably doing what maybe people are telling him the best way of getting out of here is," Redknapp said.
When asked if he wanted to cash in on Modric, Redknapp responded: "If I start saying that the chairman (Daniel Levy) will be very, very upset with me. He's not for sale, so he's not for sale."
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