Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has spoken at a news conference ahead of his side’s clash with Norwich City on Sunday. The Frenchman has been at the centre of a doping row with footballing body Uefa, who he claimed needed to improve their procedures when dealing with potential doping cases.
The 66-year-old was asked again on his opinion of doping in football and replied by suggesting that he has no doubt that doping isn’t a problem in England.
I’m not concerned there is a doping problem in England, not at all. I would be absolutely surprised. I spoke in January about the rule and I had a conservation with Uefa about that and they do not specifically make the rule, they follow the rules that are set but I don’t think in England that we have a problem with it.
Wenger was also asked whether his side had enough leaders and if it was important for his side to have a strong figure that the rest of the team can look to.
It is important. You want all 11 players to be leaders and to take initiative, communicate and transmit to other players what they see on the pitch. [You want them to] motivate the other players and be constructive and positive. That’s what it’s about in the leadership action.
Arsenal lost to West Brom last weekend after a lacklustre performance and so the Gunners manager was asked whether he had hoped results like that were a thing of the past.
Yes, you are right but in the last 38 games when we scored first, and we were 1-0 up, we won 37 times. In the last 25 games before West from, when we scored first we won 25 times. You have to consider that mathematically as an accident.
When asked whether last week’s result against West Brom will hold any bearing on this weekend’s game, Wenger responded by applauding the unpredictable nature of football and suggesting that even with his side having given their all, sometimes shock results can happen.
I believe that we gave everything and that can happen. Football is as well fantastic because it’s not always predictable. West Brom were well organised and played well on the day.
