• Premier League

Defiant Arsene Wenger returns Arsenal fans' fire

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has again shrugged off criticism from the club's supporters and insisted his tactical acumen cannot be questioned after more than 30 years as a top-level coach.

A banner was unfurled by Arsenal supporters following their 1-0 win against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday calling for Wenger to step down from the post he has held since 1996, but the Frenchman defiantly restated his commitment to the club.

• Can Alexis Sanchez end the season as the Premier League's top scorer?, at 10/1 with bet365*
• For full odds visit www.bet365.com >>
• *All odds correct at time of publishing.

"I started to manage a team at the top level in 1983 so, if I am completely useless tactically, I am a genius to hide it so well," Wenger said.

"I never know what a Plan B is. I do what I love and I think I do it with honesty and total commitment. I invite you to live with me and see in seven days what kind of work we produce and you will see it's with total commitment.

"We have shown extreme consistency and that's all you can do. Look, in the last 15 years, we are qualified for the last 16 in the Champions League. Give me another club who has done that. There's not another club.

"We've had ups and downs in the league, it's true, but you only come back again when the spirit is strong and healthy and united inside the club. I think if you have shown such a consistency, it's because we have that at the club. We have values and we respect them.

"We have had three good performances [recently] and only got two good results, but we look forward to Southampton now" he added, reflecting on the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United and the subsequent wins against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and West Brom last weekend.

"We responded well [since Man United] and had two clean sheets after our defensive stability was questioned. When you win in the Champions League and you have to travel away in the Premier League and you win again, you can say that you have done your job."

Arsenal's win condemned West Brom to a third straight loss without scoring and fans at The Hawthorns rounded on head coach Alan Irvine after the final whistle.

Irvine's side host West Ham on Tuesday having won just once in their last eight games in all competitions and Wenger's counterpart agreed with him that there are too many outside pressures on managers.

"There are, it's well known it took Sir Alex Ferguson a long time to have the success he had," Irvine said.

"In today's climate he wouldn't have got anywhere and people wouldn't have seen the most successful manager in British football because he would have lost his job.

"That's where we are, it's an instant society. Everything is expected in a hurry."

Some Arsenal fans have grown frustrated with Arsene Wenger's approach © Getty Images

Enlarge

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd