Arsene Wenger vowed Arsenal would "stay united and fight" after a 2-0 loss to Sunderland in the fifth round of the FA Cup that almost certainly condemned them to a seventh straight season without a trophy.
It has been another terrible week for the Gunners, who were all but eliminated from the Champions League in midweek with a 4-0 first-leg defeat at AC Milan, while the best they can hope for in the Premier League appears to be fourth place.
Wenger was not keen to talk about his own future at the club, saying only: "We have to take the criticism on board, stay together and face the critics. The only response in our job is to stay united and fight and focus on the next game."
He added: "It's very difficult tonight to say where it leaves us and what we will do, let's focus to finish well in the championship and fight as well, even if it's a small possibility, in the Champions League."
Wenger had been critical of his players in Milan but felt they had given everything in difficult circumstances at Sunderland after a week that began with a league victory at the Stadium of Light last Saturday.
The Frenchman also argued his side should have had a penalty in the first half when Robin van Persie tangled with John O'Shea but referee Howard Webb was unmoved.
Wenger said: "I think it was a committed performance and we gave absolutely everything that was left in our legs.
"We had three away games in one week and I believe it was a very unfortunate schedule to play away in the Champions League and immediately away again. They were very difficult pitches as well but we fought hard today.
"I felt we were a bit unlucky, it was 100% a penalty for us that Mr Webb missed and their first shot on goal was a goal. Then we had to chase the game and take every gamble and we were caught on the counter for the second.
"We had a lot of possession, didn't create a lot down to fantastic defending from Sunderland, but they left us the ball and ran after it."


Comment 5 - 24 of 24
I am an arsenal fans, Arsene wenger should be sacked cos he has destroy arsenal and he will take them to relegation if they leave him there one more season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
time will tell. now that we cant win anything we usually start playing better!! not a good sign on the players professionalism and level of talent.
maybe we should start focusing on the future and not the past, worrying about how many years it is since the last trophy, winning that sorry excuse for a European champions cup ( In my opinion it should just be league winners but that's another issue), and tabloid sensationalism from sky sports, red top newspapers and like, puts too much pressure on the players and unrealistic expectations for the fans. It seems to be a common trait in English football that is reflected in the English national side and how English people relate to it. Win a friendly against Spain and suddenly ye are the best in the world yet the players do not get on with each other due to the intense rivalry and abuse dished out in the league.
Ronald may be right, just relax and enjoy. Take the good with the bad.
Yes, cheer on as Arsene Wenger leads Arsenal down the league table and out of contention for everything .... idiot Wengerholics (or supporters of other clubs perhaps)??
Re- comment 16, well said Ronald, couldn't put it better myself it's now we find who the true supporters are and who are just here for the good times. We will fight on , i still trust our manager and still give the team my full support
Support your own club ***holes....... If u r brilliant enough, step forward and run the club...
Well said Ronald!!!
RONALD - Surname McDonald? Clown
RONALD = Clown
here we go again,slagging off manager & players,just because people expect the ultimate football match and goals.Why not try supporting your team through hard times,and enjoy the beautiful game.trust in Wenger to turn things round,or do you really want to end up swapping managers every six games,because bthey don,t get results.Gooner for ever,no matter what.
many things get to me, as a gunner,but why do we have no "away" game plan? you know team like sunderland will sit back and counter attack, we have an appalling away record this season. it's a difficult time for us, why don't we just sit back, play a 4-4-2 like when we were successful and catch the other team on the break or bring them back to the emirates, we all knew the CL is finished.
this 4-3-3 is horrendous, we don't have real wingers Arshavin, Walcott, gervinho are not wingers. Ramsey is not a second srtiker/or shouldn't play so high, he's not a good finisher.
Players should spend more times in the gym compare our CB to the other clubs, ours look under-feed with our Testosterone. and hopefully the amount of injuries should reduce
I think Wenger needs to go know now, he blew it, i respect the man a lot but the players obviously don't care much for him or the club. we've been second best since January.
The Board needs to act properly and offer a new manager a giant warchest and get new players as we need another 11 descent and hungry players after clearing out the mercenaries.
Hope we will focus on staying 4th and players prove they love the club not just $$$
Arsene Wenger would not know what it means to 'fight on'. He inherited fighters such as Seaman, Adams, Keown, Winterburn, Dixon and Bould etc. All of who needed no encouragement to fight to the death and restore respectability. WHERE ARE PLAYERS OF SUCH CALIBRE???
well done sunderland arsenal are not a big club sack him now R V P IT SHOLD BE R I P ARSENAL HA HA HA HA HA
I agree with "Chiefgunner" #10, I definately will not be renewing my 2 club level seats next year. Unless they make some sensible recruitments. The directors and the American Kracky Yanke, will then come to their sences maybe? Or will it be just a tax loss for them?
Mr Wenger you will never win anything as long as you keep protecting this bunch of under achievers
You cant win trophy's with 1 good player.
I know quit & let someone come in who can actually get the the best from people as you have
not had that ability for the past seven years.
Heaven help them when they go to tottenham.
Thought you were stronger than this Stan
i'v been arsenal suprted since 1947,i never this arsenal like it is now,one thing to do boycott 2the the matches for , then will see what they giong to do ,the shear holders when no monte coming in.
we could have 4 penalties yesterday, but Webb gave nothing to both clubs, the strongest shout was on V.persie, O shea got 1 % on the ball but 90% of the player as if he touch only the ball V.persi was still in a very good position to score but he took him down. He was fortunate
If Arsenal fight on it will be the first time for years. Thats the problem there is no fight in the team, no desire,
they pass the ball around sideways or backwards and cannot compete with a team with heart, and that must be down to the manager. Surely it is the manager that inspires the players and lays down the tactics.
Arsene "Monty Python's Black Knight" Wenger
"Had enough eh?..... come back and I'll bite your legs off"
Odd how he bemoans a penalty that wasn't - O' Shea clearly got the ball first, albeit only just, but doesn't mention the blatant handball at the other end.
Sunderland played a mid week match that went to extra time the week before we played Arsenal in the league, and narrowly lost, but MON didn't whinge about it. We played the same 3 games in 7 days.
This time around, Sunderland clearly wanted it more, and were a more motivated, confident group of players, even after losing to Arsenal last time out. All credit to them.
I`m gutted and i will be more gutted when RVP leave`s us
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