Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal have a ‘squad full of quality’ and expects a ‘recovery’
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal have the potential to turn around their Premier League form following an awful start to the season.
The Gunners finally scored their first goal of the campaign on Saturday, as well as grabbing their first points, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck in a 1-0 home win over Norwich.
But the result comes following three consecutive defeats by Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City which had left Mikel Arteta’s side bottom of the table.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring Arsenal’s winning goal against Norwich City
Wenger though, who was in charge at the club between 1996 and 2018 – winning three league titles – insists the quality at Arteta’s disposal means they will start rising up the table again.
‘First of all, honestly I like to usually say what I think, I believe in this situation I’m an Arsenal fan,’ he told beIN SPORTS.
‘After that, of course, when I talk about Arsenal it’s a sensitive subject and at the moment the timing is maybe not the best to talk.
‘I must say I find the squad full of quality. I’m not pessimistic because I feel they had two difficult games out of the first three – Chelsea on a high at home and of course after they go to Manchester City. Of course, you go to Man City and you can say it’s predictable that you could drop points.
The win gave Arsenal their first points of the season under Mikel Arteta at their fourth attempt
‘The bad result we made was in the first game against Brentford. After that it puts you straight away on the back foot.
‘I wish them to recover and I think they will. The potential is there so I hope they come back.’
Arsenal will now hope to record back-to-back wins on Saturday when they travel to Burnley, before they host AFC Wimbledon in a League Cup tie four days later.
Supporters will already be turning their attention towards the end of the month though when they entertain north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium.
But former Gunners boss Wenger has backed the club to continue their recovery
Meanwhile, Wenger, who is FIFA’s chief of global football development, has found potential support for his controversial plans to hold the World Cup every two years from The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).
The governing body said it recognised the merits of creating a new football calendar if it meant fewer international windows, less travel for players and more competitive games instead of friendlies.
‘We will continue to look at these proposals constructively, with an open mind, and in the spirit of positive engagement,’ CONCACAF said in a statement.
