Arsenal midfielder, Mikel Arteta, has lept to the defence of his boss, Arsene Wenger, after he came under scrutiny from some sections of the footballing world and some Arsenal fans.
With ten minutes remaining at Villa Park with the score at 0-0, Wenger decided to take off Olivier Giroud for Francis Coquelin which sparked chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ from the away end.
Mikel Arteta has been speaking to Sky Sports News and he has said that he respects the fans have a right to be frustrated, but he insists that Wenger is doing his best for the club.
“They can say whatever they want,” Arteta told Sky Sports News.
“If they feel that way it has to be respected. Even when they say something to one of us.
“I think he has got experience and he has been here for 15 years. He is someone who knows the club better than anyone.
“He knows the players really well and he knows what he can get from each of us.
“So when he puts the team out, obviously it’s because he wants to win it and he’s picked the best team – that day – to win that game.
“He is always trying to do the best, you know. And some of the decisions he takes are very unpopular. But if he takes them it’s because he’s got a reason.
“If he does it once then maybe it’s a mistake but if he does it four or five times then there is a reason why and he’ll explain that better than anyone.”
Mikel Arteta will face an emotional return to his old club, Everton, on Wednesday as his new team looks to overtake them in the league.
Alex William Batt
