Wenger relieved as pressure eases

Arsene Wenger defended his tenure as Arsenal manager after his team reached the Champions League group stage at the expense of Udinese.

English Premier League club Arsenal won 2-1 in Wednesday’s playoff second leg at the Stadio Friuli, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Coming after the loss of star men Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, and following a slow start to the domestic season, Wenger hopes the victory will ease the intense scrutiny Arsenal have been under during much of August.

“I feel, of course, this will lift the pressure,” Wenger said.

“There has been a little bit of pressure for Arsenal to play in the Champions League and with the players that have left, the pressure would have increased if we had lost.”

“There’s a strong attitude and spirit inside the team.”

With Arsenal seemingly unable to retain their prized assets and failing to convince on the pitch, Wenger has been subjected to the most severe criticism since arriving in north London in 1996.

But the Frenchman firmly rejected suggestions his days are numbered at the Emirates Stadium.

“We live in a society where everyone has an opinion on everything,” he said.

“I’m like someone who flies a plane for 30 years and I have to accept someone can come into the cockpit and fly it better than I do.”

“But that’s our job and we have to accept it.”

“I would like to say that the club is in, overall, a very strong position because for 14 years on trot we play in the Champions League, we have a new stadium, a fantastic training ground, a very strong financial situation and a very strong team.”

“Sometimes you have to take a distance from the catastrophes people have predicted.”

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin was left to rue his team’s tough draw after Arsenal prevented the club from capitalising on their fourth-place finish in Serie A last season.

“We go out of this competition because Arsenal are a stronger side and they eliminated us,” Guidolin said.

“I am happy with the performance of my lads and won’t look at what could’ve been. Our dream may end here, but our season truly begins.”