• Premier League

Wenger warns Arsenal players: Defend or don't play

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims his job is under just as much pressure as any other Premier League manager, while warning his players they'll have to show effort in defending or risk being left out.

Following Wednesday night's 3-1 home defeat by Monaco in the Champions League, Wenger has again found his position called into question.

However, he rejected suggestions he is too comfortable at the Emirates Stadium. Last season he presided over his 1,000th match in charge of Arsenal and then signed a contract extension following the FA Cup triumph at Wembley.

"I have exactly the same pressure [as other managers]. I want to win football games and it is a huge disappointment not to win it, but that is also part of the game," said Wenger, whose side tackle Everton on Sunday looking to retain third place in the Premier League.

"It is true that in the last four years we have not progressed [into the Champions League quarter-finals] and that is why this result on Wednesday is so disappointing.

"Everything went against us as well on the night, and after that you get always slaughtered, that is part of it." While Wenger would not single out any of his players for criticism, the message was clear over how he expected the group to react.

"Offensively we have lots of solutions. We have to find a team balance. It is more about team balance than any individual," Wenger said.

"When you have the ball in the modern game you have to attack, when you don't have the ball you have to defend. All the players who can't do that, cannot play."

During his impromptu television appearance last Sunday, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho expressed his surprise as to why Arsenal had not been able to sustain a title challenge this season.

"Leave Mourinho [comments] out of here, it would be much better," Wenger said. "Let's wait until the end of the season, we have 48 points today. We will see at the end of the season.

"We have massive games in front of us and we have played two times away from home more than at home (in the Premier League), so the way we play at home is vital.

"The reactions today are always very emotional, but life is not always on a high. You have to go through lows and highs, and at the end of the day it is about how consistent you have been in response to disappointments that makes your life."

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