Arsenal’s 2-1 loss at Newcastle United yesterday was the Gunners fifth straight Premier League defeat away from home. The setback left the Gunners currently sitting 13 points outside the top four, so there only chance back into Europa is via winning the Europa League tournament.
In his post match news conference, Wenger labeled yesterday’s loss at the Geordies as “the story of our season” and ” a worry character-wise.” In the same news conference, he ripped the Premier League over their decision not to adopt VAR.
“It’s the story of our season. We had 70 percent of possession and were 1-0 up,” Wenger said.
“You wonder how you can lose this game. It could have been over at half-time. It’s very harsh to swallow a defeat like this. It’s very disappointing.”
“Of course it’s a concern to have lost five games in a row away, because traditionally we have a very strong record away. It has become a subconscious weight on our minds. Once you’re in a negative spiral like this it is very hard to get out of.”
“It’s very difficult to combine the Europa League on Thursday night and the Premier League on Sunday afternoons. Some of our players were affected physically by getting back from Moscow so late.
“But losing like this is a worry character-wise. Our attitude today was spot on, but I have to be realistic enough to say that maybe our balance offensively and defensively doesn’t work.”
Arsenal were clearly fatigued from their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal clash at CSKA Moscow, and it showed versus the Toons in the second half. Now the only chance the Gunners have of getting back into Europe next year rests on their ability to get past Atletico Madrid in the semis and then win the final.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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