Arsenal Boss Says ”Pardew Will Restrain Himself”

Wenger – who has clashed with Pardew down the years – believes his opposite number will be restrained.

But the Frenchman understands the pressures Pardew and his Premier League peers are under as they battle to keep their emotions in check.

Wenger said: “He will try to control himself much more.

“It’s a job where you are under huge pressure I believe it is linked as well with the period of the season.

“It’s easier to be calm in September than in March. Because every game is ‘Kill or be killed’.

“This period of the season you feel much more under pressure as a manager. In September you think, OK we lost this game but we still have time to catch up.

“Now, one, two, three games to go you look at the table at the bottom, at the top, and everybody feels like you are playing Russian Roulette.”

His roll of dishonour includes a bust-up with old foe Wenger in 2006 during his spell in charge at West Ham.

But the Arsenal chief is no stranger to touchline arguments himself and says Pardew’s exile has played a role in the Toon slump.

“You feel frustrated when you are not close to your team physically because you are used to it and you feel you still have a level of intervention.

“Maybe it’s purely subjective but it exists in your mind. And you can be quicker in your decision making.

“I remember when I was banned in Europe. Sometimes I wanted to make a decision but it took time to get the message downstairs.

“You feel your speed of intervention is too slow.”

Arsenal can take another giant step towards sealing their Champions League spot after Everton slipped up on Saturday.

Newcastle have lost five successive games – their worst Premier League run – but Wenger added: “There are no easy games.”