Premier League - Managers: Arsenal 'not far away'

Eurosport - Sun, 17 May 13:25:00 2009

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted his side showed they can match champions Manchester United and will be in contention next year.

2008-2009 Manchester United-Arsenal Arsene Wenger - 0

Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal

Alex Ferguson: "The great challenge now is to try to win it next year because that would be something special. It would be a 19th league and give us a special place in the club's history.

"I do take a lot of pride from equalling Liverpool. When I came down here they were the top guns. My job was to try to change that. But I never thought we could get 11 titles - never in a million years."

Arsene Wenger: "Deep down I wish it was us not Manchester United. But that is sport. They were the better team this year, so congratulations to them. We have to make sure that it is on our side next year. Things can change quickly but what we have seen today shows we have the quality to be up there.

"We were not that far off. Since November we have lost one game and that was after the disappointment of losing to Manchester United in the Champions League. At the moment the team is not getting the credit it deserves but it is down to us to come back next year and show the same consistency."

Newcastle United 0-1 Fulham

Alan Shearer: "It's out of our hands. We have got to better Hull next weekend. Whatever they do, we have got to better them. But it ain't over. I am sure there are going to be twists and turns next Sunday afternoon. But that's football, isn't it? From the highs on Monday evening and this week, we have been brought back down to earth again. I was always aware of 'after the Lord Mayor's Show', and we have tried to do everything to make sure that wasn't the case."

Roy Hodgson: "We came here to some extent as sacrificial lambs today. It was a great win here today. I feel sorry for Newcastle - they deserved better, we rode our luck on several occasions. We are thankful for a very good performance from our back four and goalkeeper."

Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Hull City

Gary Megson: "I am happy we are now mathematically safe and we are in this division, it has been a while coming. The performance today was better than in the previous two or three but nothing like what we have shown in the previous 31 or 32. I think with the fact we have had that cushion between ourselves and the bottom three we have taken our foot off the gas. We are not a team that can play without our foot being on the gas."

Phil Brown: "We were dumped in the bottom three in no uncertain terms by Newcastle United. We had to respond and like true professionals they responded and I was quite proud of the performance today. It slipped out of our hands and that is not a nice feeling. It is now back in our hands, albeit having to win against the champions. There will be suggestions of weakened sides coming our way but as we have seen today, nobody does you any favours in the Premier League."

Middlesbrough 1-1 Aston Villa

Gareth Southgate: "We're relying on everything else going for us, and that's obviously a very difficult position. But I can't fault the effort or the endeavour of the players today. I think they gave every ounce of energy they had, and they probably gave so much in the first half that they ran out of gas a bit in the second. The reaction from the fans to the players at the end shows just how much was given."

Martin O'Neill: "I have great regard for Gareth Southgate and I think he has approached his managership full of integrity and will learn from this experience. He is an excellent manager in the making without question and I do feel for him of course and I know something of what he will be feeling. He is working with a wonderful chairman and I think Gareth Southgate will be a quality manager."

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester City

Harry Redknapp: "He (Roman Pavlyuchenko) always like that (reacting angrily to being substituted). He moved well when he went down that tunnel. It was good to see. He thought he was playing well and didn't think he should be taken off. Fulham look nailed on (to qualify for the Europa League). But it is possible."

Mark Hughes: "We're disappointed with the decision, it's a poor decision and one that hurt us. It was a speculative ball that has gone comfortably to Shay Given and the lad was never closer than 15 yards away from it. With five minutes to go we had a real chance to get the winner. We could have been in the mix for Europe."

Everton 3-1 West Ham United

David Moyes: "The most important thing was I wanted to win the match. I am not going to play people just because I am looking at the FA Cup. We have options and I wanted to give people opportunities to see what they could do. If you had given me sixth at the start of the season I would have said thanks very much. If we can stay fifth I will be more than happy."

Gianfranco Zola: "The players are very disappointed. But I am even more disappointed we have not been able to make seventh place. But that does not taken anything anyway from our season. I am really pleased and proud to be their manager. Considering all the problems that were around the club, all the injuries we had, the players have done a fantastic job. I have promised them that next season we will be much better. I do believe that."

Stoke City 2-0 Wigan Athletic

Tony Pulis: "We are absolutely delighted to have won here for the supporters, who have been fantastic. It has been a difficult week because after we won at Hull we knew we were safe and the relief of having Premier League football next year takes the edge off. We wanted the players to enjoy the week but also turn up and have a right crack today."

Steve Bruce: "It wasn't very good. We had a disputed penalty in the first half - I thought it was clear cut but when you are having a run like we are having it goes against you. They made it very difficult but the longer it went on I thought they had the cutting edge and I thought the first goal was always going to win it. Overall I didn't think we did enough going forward and we got punished at the other end."

Eurosport

Comment 12 - 31 of 31

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. "Not that far off"???? This guy is­ delusional! 18 points behind Man U, 11 points behind­ Chelsea in third place and he thinks Arsenal is­ "Not that far off"????? What is he having­ for breakfast???? Maybe he's keeping his team­ young so that he has an excuse each time his team falls­ short! Sure - he's building a team for the future­ - but for someone else! Each time they reach maturity,­ his players leave because of Arsenal's stingy wage­ structure and blinkered policy on not giving players­ over 30 more than a year's contract. Until he­ wakes up, Arsenal will continue to be fighting for­ third place.

    From Clearshot, on Tue 19 May 1:57AM

  2. if wishes were... wenger can dream of castles.. but we­ would like him to be atleast
    better than liverfool who­ are a poor bitter second with a bunch of one man­ players.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 18 May 3:08PM

  3. Get rid of Bendtner. He is one uncoordinated blonde.­­ Use Eduardo Da Silva and put Van Persie on the­­ bench.....his time is up and he is not performing at­­ all. Replace Adebayor with a new striker as he has no­­ passion for the club....get rid of him and bring in­­ David Villa. Put Walcott and Nasri on the wings,­­ Fabregas and Arshavin in midfield. Backline is ok but­­ would be a dream if Arsenal can bring in Yaya Toure to­­ play in front of his brother and also get rid of­­ Silvestre.... his passing of the ball is horrible.

    From lawmichelle, on Mon 18 May 2:30PM

  4. Congratulation Man U for winning the­ Premiership.......Liverpool have a very strong team but­ they were unlucky that this year Man U too have a very­ strong squad and that includes their substitute.....As­ for Arsenal their first 11 are strong but their subs­ are not so I dont expect them to throw a strong­ challenge......well next year maybe....Arsenal4 life

    From hisham n, on Mon 18 May 5:23AM

  5. man u fans how are you going to pay back your massive­ massive debts we will have the last laugh what goes­ around comes around arsenal forever

    From r.wilkinson643, on Sun 17 May 9:49PM

  6. ermm u have a bit of catching up to do mr wenger but u­ no love the enthusiasm dont get me wrong i love the­ enthusiasm what they have of it lol no really i do

    From smiley123, on Sun 17 May 9:48PM

  7. excuse me i think Mr.Wenger was watching a different­ match to me..........................

    i really­ thought they would try to proove something... where was­ the grit and determination from by gone­ days............thats just it........ THEYRE­ GONE........

    From LIZ, on Sun 17 May 7:47PM

  8. Wake up and smell the croissants Wenger. Any self­ respecting footy fan can see for themselves that your­ club are not investing in players of sufficient­ quality, desire and experience. These attributes cost­ money, you have had your best players poached, and are­ not re-investing the money in the team. Paying £60 to­ watch these kids keep the ball in their own half, and­ create maybe one or two clear cut chances a game is­ laughable. If you want to bang the "attractive­ football" drum, feel free, but thats akin to­ football snobbery. If you can win while playing­ attractive football, great, but even Barca needed the­ refs "Help" to beat a resolute Chelsea.

    This­ year has shown that Arsenal are clearly better than the­ next two teams, but in the big games, against big teams­ with big desire, they have been found wanting. If you­ think that a summer holiday in sunny climes will help­ these kids find some desire, good luck, because i­ cannot see it happening.

    PS, what if Fabregas goes,­ who then, really, do you think is world class in your­ team?

    Walcott? - dog with a balloon.
    RVP? - injury­ prone, and not enough goals
    Adebayor - moodier than­ Drogba when the painters are in
    Gallas - dont make me­ laugh
    Tore - washed up and disillusioned

    Wenger cant­ spot a good defender if he two footed him around the­ waste, although he does have a habit of missing things­ on the pitch (i didnt zee it?!), so no surprise you try­ and play "score more than you football". The­ attractive football tag has been placed by twits like­ andy (hindsight) gray and the like on the tv. I think­ your @#$% to watch, but, then again, i remember when­ football was a sport, not just an entertainment vehicle­ to make loads of money for greedy directors, prem­ league directors, sponsors etc.

    Enjoy your­ "Entertainment" because it sure aint­ "Sport"

    From ghettovest, on Sun 17 May 1:56PM

  9. Wenger should invest more in experience players to get­ result.

    From Ariyo, on Sun 17 May 1:38PM

  10. liverpool wont have a season as good as tihs arsenal­ will be a year oldeer and stronger they only need an­ improved defence and too replace adabeyor if he goes­ (which will be a god send) and chelsea will have a new­ manager and new players they will be even better also,­ man u will remain strong as they have currently best­ team and so much ambition so liv need to make sure they­ dont bottle it this has been there best premiership­ season an they at 100% i dont see what else they got­ too give. next season man u 1st chelsea 2nd arseanl 3rd­ and liverpool 4th

    From Jimmyrice man u are champs again, on Sun 17 May 1:34PM

  11. u right Andy P, he is a @#$% always joking

    From sitamiky, on Sun 17 May 12:10PM

  12. @comment 19 good one dont be frustrated u are welcome­ to Chelsea

    @comment 17 sorry we are not going to sell­ Drogba at any cost and we know arsenal cannot afford­ him so leave that issue and stick to Adebayor and­ Bendthner.

    From sitamiky, on Sun 17 May 12:07PM

  13. Mr. Wenger is always full of dreams winning the league­ next season? where Chelsea and Liver'fool are, i­ will not be surprise to see Man city taking the there­ fourth position next season.

    From sitamiky, on Sun 17 May 12:04PM

  14. Arsenal Arsenal we all love arsenal

    From jpaulaquilina, on Sun 17 May 11:07AM

  15. Mike S
    would you care to give us your reasons for such­ profound wishes?

    From cameron w, on Sun 17 May 10:59AM

  16. well if the arsenal team have a bit of shooting­ practice and stop trying to dribble the ball into the­ net then maybe they might score some goals, and i am an­ arsenal fan, a frustrated one at that.

    From darren, on Sun 17 May 10:01AM

  17. What Mr 'dreamer' Wenger need 2 do...keep­ Walcott,Arshavin and Nasri, sell Adebayor and Van­ Persie 4 money and buy a good central striker (Drogba­ maybe),a good central midfield player (2 share the work­ load of Cesc) and buy a great central defender and left­ or right back.(They need 1)...and of course no injury­ concern 2 ur players.

    From lai y, on Sun 17 May 9:32AM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    fat spanish waiter...skinny scottish plumber...a tad­ overwieght mexican taxi driver, an enorexic belly­ dancer for all i care, who gives a @#$% ???

    he done­ the double on you ...pmsl

    From wayne, on Sun 17 May 9:22AM

  19. Well said Arsene now go and sit next to the fat spanish­ waiter. You have both lost the plot.
    If I was a­ 'ull supporter I would rather face Man Utd's­ first team. They won't be up for a battle royal­ only 72 hours before a CL final. 50/50 challenge? Not­ me Guv, don't want to tweak me dainties, saving­ myself for wednesday. The first team have done their­ bit and now they don't give a rat's whatnot who­ gets the boot from the Prem. SAF will put out the­ second string team who will all be playing out of their­ collective skin's wanting to impress and get at­ least a seat on the bench for the final. 'ull can­ emulate Everton by putting one over the reds second­ string, but the job must be done within 90 minutes. No­ ET and no lottery. I have a feeling it could be a­ classic. Every player out to perform a smash and grab­ for different reasons. Bring it on. Enjoy the game­ peeps.

    From Menace, on Sun 17 May 9:06AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    What a dreamer. Yet another season with nothing for you­ gooners, and long may it continue. Up the Blues

    From Andy P, on Sun 17 May 8:56AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account