Arsene Wenger fired a stinging response to Thierry Henry’s claim that Arsenal fans were as angry as he’s seen them following Wednesday’s shock defeat by Swansea.
The Gunners players and manager were roundly booed by their own fans following the match at the Emirates Stadium, where Henry was watching and commented on their foul mood in his national newspaper column.
Henry is a regular at the club’s training ground given his coaching role with the academy, but Wenger has questioned his ability to gauge supporters’ mood.
Arsenal’s record goalscorer said in The Sun: ‘I have never heard the Arsenal supporters as angry as they were at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
‘They were less patient than I have ever known, booed one of the manager’s substitutions and groaned every time a pass went astray or a tackle was lost.’
But Wenger responded in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s crucial north London derby against Tottenham.
‘Thierry Henry has his opinions,’ he said. ‘He has not found the measurement of the fans’ angriness, of 60,000 people straight away, because he sits in the best seats of the stadium.’
Wenger’s comments are reminiscent of Roy Keane’s rant in 2000, when the then Manchester United captain said Old Trafford supporters who had a ‘few drinks’ and ‘prawn sandwiches’ didn’t know what was going on out on the pitch.
Petr Cech will miss this weekend’s game at North London derby at White Hart Lane with a calf injury.
And Wenger confirmed the goalkeeper will be out for three or four weeks.
The Gunners can move level on points with second-placed Tottenham with a victory.
On the match, Wenger added: ‘It is a big game and an important one.
‘We prepare for every single game with the same intensity, the same focus and there is not a lot of special things to do.
‘Maybe the impact and consequences on the table [are more significant] but the preparation is the same.’
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