LONDON . — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side lost their grasp on the English Premier League soccer title due to the pressure from angry fans at the Emirates.

Gunners fans groups are planning to voice their concerns during today’s game against Norwich.

Wenger has urged supporters of his team to take Liverpool fans’ lead in gaining a sense of perspective amid growing discontent at a trophyless season

“We lost the championship at home against the lower teams, but we played at home in a very difficult climate,” Wenger said.

“We have to realise that, away from home, we are championship winners. At home, against the smaller teams, we lost the league. This club does have special values though and one I’ve experienced over the years is to stick together and support the team.

“There’s no success without that.”

The Arsenal boss risked further condemnation from his own supporters when suggesting they should follow the example of followers of Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Wenger said: “Liverpool are a good example to follow. They’re a big club. We are a very big club.

“Look, I can understand the frustration of our fans. But, despite that, they want to support our team.

“The best chance they can give our team is to be behind our team. Some groups of people try to manipulate our fans, and I believe apart from an agenda, a personal agenda, a big ego, there’s not a lot behind it.

“This club has special values. But sometimes we must put things into perspective and see how the club’s evolution has gone.

“Our expectation is higher and and so too is the frustration. When we built the stadium we had difficult financial years.

“We had to sell our best players and survive. We are out of that position and in a good position. But during that time it was difficult.

“I wish when I go the club goes higher up and wins the Champions League and championship every year.

“I will be the biggest supporter in the stand because I will feel I have contributed to that.

‘You have to remember when we built the stadium we had five to seven difficult financial years. We had to be three years in the Champions League and have a 54,000 average attendance.

“We had to sell our best players and survive. And we didn’t do three years out of five we did five years out of five. During that time it was very competitive.”

Fourth-placed Arsenal continue their laboured defence of a top-four place this weekend.

Wenger’s team, who were challenging for the title at the turn of the year, have a five-point lead over Manchester United, though their rivals for Champions League qualification hold a game in hand over the Gunners.

Add into the mix a quarter-final exit in the FA Cup and a fifth successive last-16 defeat in Europe’s elite club competition, and supporters are becoming frustrated by what they see as the club “going stale”.

The Black Scarf Movement and REDaction both released statements on Tuesday urging fans to hold up placards reading: “Time For Change. Arsenal is stale – fresh approach needed” during the visit of the Canaries.

The two respective websites included an image of the banner for supporters to print off and hand out ahead of the match, with plans to then hold them aloft on 12 minutes, 78 minutes and at full-time.

The timings are in reference to the 12 years since Arsenal last won the Premier League title, while there is also unrest at the lack of money being invested in the team.

Gunners owner Stan Kroenke was also criticised by the two fans groups earlier this week, with REDaction branding the American as “an absentee owner who takes money from the club whilst not engaging with fans”.

Wenger defended Kroenke yesterday, saying: “Every club should work with the resources it generates and that is what we do.

“That is one of the values I speak about and that is what I speak about.

“He has never stopped me in the transfer market. He is very ambitious, we all are.” — The Daily Mirror.

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