O'Neill: Wenger uses jibes to deflect from Arsenal's failures

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: MARTIN O'NEILL last night delivered a withering attack on Arsène Wenger, accusing the Arsenal manager of being obsessed with his own importance and of being someone who has an opinion on every subject in the world.

The Aston Villa manager, who remains furious with Wenger’s jibe after Wednesday’s goalless draw that his side “play a very long-ball game”, also suggested the Frenchman was deluded to believe his own team set the standard and claimed that he might “learn something” from watching Barcelona.

O’Neill revealed how he felt compelled to confront Wenger after Wednesday’s match to tell him just how unhappy he was with his comments. And almost 48 hours later he tore into Wenger again, accusing him of using Arsenal’s style of play as a convenient excuse for their failure to compete with Chelsea and Manchester United.

“It is interesting, the point he makes, that no one can play football in the manner that they do. If he believes that, good luck to him,” said O’Neill. “He might want to take a wee look at Barcelona: he might learn something, as we all could. Anyone worth their salt would want to aspire to playing like Barcelona, it is a wonderful thing. You have to have really, really gifted players.

“What we are doing here, and I don’t care what anyone says, we have flair players picking the ball up, attacking. I thought Ashley Young was fantastic on Wednesday night. We have been more creative now than at any time in the three and-a-half years that I have been here.”

O’Neill acknowledged Wenger is a “top-quality manager” but, echoing the thoughts of Jose Mourinho when he was in charge at Chelsea, believes the Frenchman is too quick to wade into territory that has nothing to do with him. The Villa manager claimed that at times Wenger is saying things for “effect” and suggested that when the subject matter concerns Arsenal and his players, he would benefit from being more honest.

“He has an opinion on everything,” O’Neill said. “There is not a subject in this world at this minute, political, religious, anything, that he does not have an opinion on. I really don’t mind, I just don’t want it shoved down my throat. If I totally and utterly disagree with his opinion, I will say so. I’m not the only one to disagree with him. He does say things for effect. When he talks about this particular Arsenal side, and teams going out deliberately to kick them, no one does that. Manchester United wouldn’t do that.”

He added: “You can get carried away with your own importance. Sometimes he does. He has made a great contribution to the game here, but he is not on a different planet. He is a very skilful manager – well done him, but he has another record, like he has had something like 99 sendings-off this year, and 98 of them weren’t his fault. That is the problem.”

“There are things that happen in the game that you cannot always be fantastically proud of your team,” said O’Neill. “There can be some nasty challenges made by Arsenal players. You cannot condone everything. If what you say stands up, and people can see it, people will accept it. But I don’t think there is any acceptance with his [latest] comments. We will continue to play in the manner in which we play until we drop.”

The Villa manager believes Wenger’s outspoken remarks are often “deliberate ploys” aimed to deflect attention from Arsenal’s shortcomings: “What he wants to do is try and point out to everyone who is under his spell that Arsenal are the only delightful team around. When you are looking for that, you can spot a weakness. You are trying to get an excuse ready if you cannot compete with Manchester United and Chelsea. That is the point.”

O’Neill also suggested the fallout from a particular Champions League tie this year would be interesting. “We should hold opinions until Arsenal play Barcelona. And if they lose to Barcelona, Barcelona will be considered a long-ball team.”

Guardian Service