Arsene Wenger hits back at latest critics as Arsenal prepare for Swansea visit
Arsene Wenger has hit back at his latest critics - labelling the condemnation of his Arsenal team as "excessive" and is focused on winning Wednesday's Barclays Premier League match with Swansea.
The Gunners are now five points adrift of leaders Leicester after losing 3-2 at Manchester United on Sunday.
In the aftermath of the defeat, against a United side that had more than a feel of a makeshift look to it, Wenger and his players were criticised by Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness - who called the team "weak and insipid".
Former Arsenal favourite Paul Merson also called for Wenger to leave if either Leicester or Tottenham win the league but the Frenchman believes the strength criticism are unjust.
"I'm never surprised by the criticism that comes," he said. "That's part of the media today. Part of the opinion is always a bit excessive and emotional, but we have to deal with that and I don't complain about it."
Instead Wenger has called on his players to respond to their public shaming by using it as motivation to beat the Swans and get themselves back into the title race ahead of a massive north London derby against Spurs at the weekend.
"That's what we want to do," he added. "We want to transform the negatives into positives around us and create even more solidarity. Let's not go overboard, we do not play to be relegated.
"We are playing to fight for the title. That's why we have to put criticism in the right place."
Having played, and lost, to Barcelona and United in the last week Wenger has hinted he could make changes for the visit of the struggling Swans.
Danny Welbeck will likely be among the substitutes as he works his way back to full fitness, while Per Mertesacker could return in defence after Gabriel was out-foxed by United's young striker Marcus Rashford on Sunday.
But one player whose involvement over the rest of the season is now in doubt is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The England winger injured his knee in the Champions League loss to Barcelona and Wenger has revealed he could be out for as long as two months.
Swansea first team coach Alan Curtis knows that both sides are in need of the points as the Gunners look to gain some ground on Leicester and Tottenham in the table.
The Swans sit just three points above the relegation zone having lost two league games in a row.
Curtis said: "We want to win the game, that has always been the intention before the Spurs game as well.
"We knew that they were going to be two difficult games and we have played Spurs and we battled extremely well.
"It became a really tough game but during the defeat, I thought the back four put in an incredible effort blocking shots, putting in headers and putting in tackles.
"We worked really hard and we are going to have to be as good again, if not better (against Arsenal).
"They will want to bounce back quickly.
"Petr Cech has said they need to win the next two games but it is up to us to get a similar performance as it was against Tottenham but with a little bit more attack going forward.
"It will be interesting, we have a good record at the Emirates - a couple of victories and a draw - but we will be the underdogs.
"The way we look at it, we are under pressure, we have lost our last two and I think it is imperative we do not lose a third.
"We need to perform so we can get up the table a little bit."
Manager Francesco Guidolin was unable to attend the press conference due to illness but Curtis believes he will be in the dugout on Wednesday evening.
He said: "He trained this morning, he has picked up a chest infection which he has had for over a week now.
"He is slightly better but this morning was cold and windy and he is having difficulty speaking so he is laying up."
Source: PAR
