Zimpapers Logo

LONDON. — Arsene Wenger fired a stinging response to Thierry Henry’s claim that Arsenal fans were as angry as he’s seen them following Wednesday night’s shock defeat by Swansea.

The Gunners players and manager were roundly booed by their own fans following the match at the Emirates Stadium, where Henry was watching and commented on their foul mood in his national newspaper column.

Henry is a regular at the club’s training ground given his coaching role with the academy, but Wenger has questioned his ability to gauge supporters’ mood.

Arsenal’s record goalscorer said in The Sun: “I have never heard the Arsenal supporters as angry as they were at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

“They were less patient than I have ever known, booed one of the manager’s substitutions and groaned every time a pass went astray or a tackle was lost.”

But Wenger responded in his Press conference ahead of today’s crucial north London derby against Tottenham.

“Thierry Henry has his opinions,” he said. “He has not found the measurement of the fans’ angriness, of 60 000 people straight away, because he sits in the best seats of the stadium.”Wenger’s comments are reminiscent of Roy Keane’s rant in 2000, when the then Manchester United captain said Old Trafford supporters who had a “few drinks” and “prawn sandwiches” didn’t know what was going on out on the pitch.Henry had taken a swipe at Arsenal ahead of today’s north London derby with Tottenham.

The Gunners legend believes his former club lack the same consistency as Spurs after seeing their title bid dented by successive defeats to Manchester United and Swansea.

While Spurs ended a six-match winning streak in the 1-0 loss to West Ham on Wednesday, lifting them to second in the English Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men sit three behind leaders Leicester and three ahead of Wenger’s side, who currently occupy third.

Henry, who scored 228 goals for Arsenal during two stints, has told the Gunners to stop using injuries as an excuse and “feeling sorry for themselves”.

The 38-year-old told The Sun: “If there is ever such a thing as an acceptable defeat, losing 1-0 in a local derby away to a very impressive West Ham team — who boast an excellent record against all the big clubs — was surely it.

“Tottenham had won their previous six games before Wednesday’s defeat. That is the kind of consistency which Arsenal have been unable to show.

“Everybody has been talking about the difficult run of away games Arsenal still have to negotiate.

“But nobody expected them to lose at home to a Swansea team who had rested a lot of their best players.

“But injuries happen to every team and there is no point complaining or feeling sorry for yourself. You just get on with it.” — Mailonline.