Wenger's inconsistent standards

[Cripps_orig]

Arsene Wenger has praised the increased strength of European football, while acknowledging that Champions League qualification is no longer guaranteed for a fourth-place Premier League finish.

Arsenal, who finished fourth in the English top-flight last season, consequently had to overcome a strong Udinese side in August to secure their qualification for the Group Stage of this season's Champions League, highlighting the increase in quality.

"Looking at the quality in Europe, it is going up, for any English team it is difficult. I have felt that for a few years now," Wenger told The Mirror.

"Where it [Champions League qualification from fourth place] was just a formality before, now it is not.

"With Udinese we had two hard games, they are a top team in Serie A."

After being knocked out of the tournament by AC Milan the London side are now focused on the closing stages of their domestic league campaign and closing in on Tottenham.

"I try to do my best and just know that I am ready to fight.

"At the moment for Tottenham, it [third place] is still in their hands. It will be down to consistency.

"We have difficult games, they have difficult games and I think we have to make sure first that the fourth spot is there."

Chelsea are the only English side left in this season’s Champions League but trail 3-1 to Napoli after their first leg.

Wenger said: "You look at the results of Man City and Man United at home this season and you would think that they were the two teams who would manage to go through easily. It is difficult.

"Judging on this season we [English teams] are not [on top], they [the rest of Europe] have caught up.

"Maybe because in England every championship game is a complete commitment, we suffer a bit more in the decisive Champions League games.

"This season did not go well. Maybe the clubs have to up the quality of their game."

Former Southampton midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain impressed against AC Milan last week and his manager admits he is struggling to control the hype surrounding the player.

"His feet are on the ground, but we have to manage him in a responsible way as well," Wenger said.

"The problem when you have a talented player like that is that everybody wants him to play every single game. If you do that then he will be injured.

"I am a great admirer, but it is difficult to slow the enthusiasm down on the expectation level."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/...ampions-league

More inconsistency.

First 4th is a trophy and now it doesnt guarantee a CL place

[Olivier's xmas twist]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/...ampions-league

More inconsistency.

First 4th is a trophy and now it doesnt guarantee a CL place

Yeah, but hes right and is not not what Gooners want to here, all are they happy for him to go on about 4th being a trophy etc.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Everything he does is designed to stifle young talent so that we work our way down the divisions.

Lucky for us, he is a bumbling idiot.

[Marc Overmars]

Thinking back to the Udinese tie, they were 2 incredibly hard fixtures and we did very well to win in Italy. I prefer it now they've made the qualifiers less of a formality than it used to be.

All the more reason to get 3rd.

[Özim]

Europeran football isn't that strong, take out Barca and Real and it's pretty lousy.

Also him and his team are always ready to fight, it's rare to see them do so on the pitch, more of the typical nonsense by *******.

[Joker]

"The problem when you have a talented player like that is that everybody wants him to play every single game. If you do that then he will be injured.

Shame he didn't take this into account when over-playing Wilshere last season.

There wouldn't be such a clamour to play AOC in every single game if there was enough strength in depth in the squad. As it is, he is one of the few exciting players in this squad, so it's natural fans want to see him play rather than turds like Park, Chamakh, Gervinho etc.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Shame he didn't take this into account when over-playing Wilshere last season.

There wouldn't be such a clamour to play AOC in every single game if there was enough strength in depth in the squad. As it is, he is one of the few exciting players in this squad, so it's natural fans want to see him play rather than turds like Park, Chamakh, Gervinho etc.

He never he had Nasri and Cesc who could rotate with Wishere tbh, this year there is no one to rotate AOC with and you can't put all that pressure on him.

Your right though extra sqaud depth should have been bought.

[Marc Overmars]

Wilshere was never used in a rotation system last year, he was the first name on the teamsheet and played 50 times.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Europeran football isn't that strong, take out Barca and Real and it's pretty lousy.

Also him and his team are always ready to fight, it's rare to see them do so on the pitch, more of the typical nonsense by *******.

the second isnt as true this season as it is in recent years imo. the last htree weeks show that, yes we are out of everything but still there is something different there right now, a spirit and a pride i havnt seen for years. ive said before but this year i feel like im supporting my team not players playing for my team. many games this year, even when we have lost, there has been a fight.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Wilshere was never used in a rotation system last year, he was the first name on the teamsheet and played 50 times.

No sure about being the 1st name on the sheet, no way fab would always be 1st. my point was, that we had Nasri/Cesc/Song so we not have to rely on jack that much.

We don't have that quality. with the attackers being poor as they are (except rvp) AOC it would be on his young shoulders and if he does mess up you'll get a few who would have been on his back.

Not everyone even wanted him when we signed him, he was a "waste of money" Now he's the best thing since slice bread.