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Wenger Attacks Scholes Over Criticism Of Gunners’s Guts

 

Arsene Wenger has hit back at Paul Scholes after the former Manchester United midfielder’s scathing criticism of Arsenal.

The Arsenal chief responded after Scholes claimed Arsenal are ‘a million miles away from winning the title’ and questioned the leadership quality of the team and their ‘tippy-tappy football’.

Wenger said: ‘If six points is a million miles away, then I don’t know what the translation from a mile into a point is. 

‘Everybody has opinions, people who have managed zero games have opinions and we have to accept that.

‘What you live is what you do on the pitch, and all the rest is only opinions. We are in a society where there are thousands of opinions every day, and some go for you and some go against you. You have to live with that.

Scholes was speaking in a television show during the Manchester derby, and he criticised the Gunners after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Swansea at the Emirates.

Scholes also said that Jack Wilshere hasn’t developed as a footballer since he burst on the scene as a highly-promising teenager

The Manchester United legend said: ‘They (Arsenal) capitulated at Chelsea and it seems to be a similar theme that happens when they play the top teams. For one reason or another players go missing.

‘The players like Arteta, Cazorla, Rosicky and Ozil, it seems like they go on the pitch with no discipline.

‘There are no leaders like Patrick Vieira, Tony Adams or Martin Keown. When these players go 2-0 down they just carry on what they are doing they have a walk up front, lose the ball, play a nice little one-two and not even bother running back.’

Scholes added: ‘It’s Arsenal fans I feel sorry for because it is the same every year. They get a sniff of the title then they go to Chelsea and do nothing. The fans expect Arsenal to be going for the league but they’re a million miles away in my eyes. They need characters and leaders.’

‘Jack Wilshere came on the scene and looked a top young player but he has never really gone on. He needs the characters like Vieira next to him to take him to the next level. He doesn’t look any better player now than he did when he was 17.’

In response, Wenger said: ‘You cannot say that, Jack Wilshere is an exceptionable player for me who has been handicapped by many injuries. 

‘Once Jack is back and consistently on the pitch, he will prove everybody wrong about that because he is an exceptional player – and Scholes knows that as well.’

Wenger has admitted that Saturday’s clash with Manchester City will be their last chance to have a say in the title race.

They were beaten 6-3 at the Etihad in December and are six points behind league leaders Chelsea.

The Arsenal manager added: ‘It is yes (the last chance). But I believe that we have to keep going despite the past two negative results and if people say that Everton can catch us, that means we can catch the teams above us as well because they play against each other.

‘It is the next game that is of course very important, and the next game is of massive importance because it is Man City and they fight at the top. They are the favourites with Chelsea and Liverpool but when you play one of the favourites, you have an opportunity to shorten the distance with them.’