Wenger returns fire at Arsenal critics

Arsene Wenger has hit out at criticism from Arsenal fans after his side’s dour 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday.

Chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ rung out from the away section of Villa Park after Arsenal manager Wenger boss replaced striker Olivier Giroud with defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin with two minutes remaining.

Wenger refused to comment on why he made the change but was in a belligerent mood when asked about the fans’ displeasure in the post-match press conference.

“I don’t want to comment on that. I do my job and do my best for the club,” he said.

“I leave it to you to judge. I try to be as good as I can be.

“Is it hurtful? Look, I have managed for 30 years at the top level and I have to convince you I can manage the team?

“How many games have you managed? I promise you if you manage one I will sit in the stands and chant ‘you know what you are doing!”‘

When questioned about the substitution, Wenger said: “You can discuss every substitution. You think what you want.

“I do my job and I let people judge it. I do that every day and I do my best every day. I know why I do it.

“What is the thinking behind the substitution? I will not explain every decision I make, you judge the game for the papers and I sit here and explain to you our game.

“You are all great managers. I read the newspapers every day and I can tell you that you are always great managers.”

Meanwhile, Villa boss Paul Lambert, who watched the game from the stands because of a one-match touchline ban, was thrilled with the result which moved his side out of the relegation zone.

“We’ve played the two Manchester clubs and Arsenal in back-to-back games and it’s a tough thing mentally,” he said.

“But I thought we played really well today. We were excellent and might have nicked it.

“We defended really strongly. We are playing really well.

“We are a young side which is growing together and the way we are playing, we are a threat.”