• Premier League

Petit urges Arsenal to stand by Wenger

ESPN staff
February 20, 2012
Emmanuel Petit believes it would be wrong for Arsenal to sack Arsene Wenger © Getty Images
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Former Arsenal player Emmanuel Petit has warned the club not to get rid of manager Arsene Wenger, despite being critical of the team in recent weeks.

Petit was a vocal critic of the Gunners side that lost 4-0 to AC Milan in the Champions League last week, openly questioning the hunger and ability of a number of players in Wenger's first XI.

A subsequent away defeat to Sunderland in the FA Cup further added to the malaise around the club, leading some to call for Wenger to step down after nearly 16 years in charge.

Petit, however, does not believe that would be the right course of action - believing any new appointment would be unable to follow in the footsteps of the Frenchman. The former midfielder believes Wenger instead needs to be made to open the chequebook in the summer and sign some world-class players.

"I think that will be probably the biggest mistake at Arsenal," Petit told the BBC. "If Arsene has to leave the club they need to find a big manager to settle down and that would be very difficult for the next manager.

"I think Arsene's still the solution. They need to change a few things in the transfer market, change a few things in their politics to bring a competitive team."

Petit also believes a lot of the club's current woes are in the mind, suggesting some players need to be allowed time to mature and grow into leadership roles that were once occupied by the likes of him and Patrick Vieira.

"I think it's mentally that the team is very weak," Petit said. "I think Arsene Wenger and Arsenal did build many successes. Arsenal won many trophies.

"They had experienced players with big characters and all of a sudden Arsene Wenger decided to change completely the team, decided to put confidence in young players and we have to admire that because I think with the new regulations I think financially Arsenal's politics in the transfer market have been right so far in terms of not making big speculation on players.

"I was a big admirer of Arsenal's politics for five years. They were probably the best team after Barcelona in terms of football.

"But unfortunately for them last season was the final cut, especially the Carling Cup final against Birmingham."

He added: "They need more experienced players, more big characters in the team because the quality is there and they need some players to be the mentors in the team."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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