• Premier League

Arsenal will not sack Wenger - Gazidis

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has insisted Arsene Wenger's position as manager is not under threat, despite the club's worst start to a season since 1953.

Arsenal slumped to their third Premier League loss in five matches last weekend as they let a 2-1 lead slip to suffer a 4-3 defeat at Blackburn. The result further intensifies the pressure on Wenger, who has seen his side concede 14 top-flight goals this term - more than any other team.

Wenger, so often a big defender of his team, has even criticised his players for their efforts at Blackburn, where the Gunners scored two own goals. The Arsenal boss accused his men of a "lack of co-ordination", insisting the loss was the worst feeling a team can experience in football.

Former Gunners manager George Graham offered comment on the current situation on Monday, insisting Arsenal are in the toughest period of Wenger's reign. He also hinted that the fans are disillusioned with the club's signings, stating "they don't even know who they are".

However, Gazidis said that sacking Wenger is "a route we are not going to go down", adding that having critics and fans portray Wenger "as some kind of idiot" is damaging for football.

Speaking at the Sport Industry Breakfast Club in London, Gazidis said Wenger "is not broken... he did not suddenly become a bad manager or somebody who became out of touch with the game. That is complete nonsense.

"Arsene is frustrated, he shares the same frustrations that we all do. The potential is very high but we have found self-inflicted ways not to achieve that full potential and that is why he is deeply frustrated.

"If you look at the last six years when we haven't quite got over the line for a trophy, if we hadn't had the potential to do it. That is something we need to correct because the potential is there.

"That is the frustration I think Arsene is wrestling with but he is absolutely not broken. He is as focused on delivering success to this football club as he has ever been.''

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