Arsene Wenger unmoved despite fans' frustration
Arsene Wenger has again insisted he will not leave Arsenal this summer despite thousands of supporters expected to vote with their feet by not attending Thursday's game at home to West Brom.
The Gunners have all but fallen out of the race for the Barclays Premier League title and are now in a battle to secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
A 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday saw more jeering from sections of the Emirates Stadium, having seen their team win just two of their last seven league outings.
Some reports claim more than 2,500 tickets remain on sale after a lack of interest from season ticket holders - but Wenger was unmoved when asked if recent results, as well as banners protesting at his continued role, could force him to reconsider his earlier announcement that he will at least see out his current deal with the club, which expires next year.
"I do not want to come back on that, I respect always my contract," he said when asked about remaining in charge.
When pushed further he replied curtly: "I've just answered your question."
West Brom are the visitors to north London on Thursday and, with Arsenal winning only two league games in front of their own fans since the start of February, Wenger admits fans are allowed to make their own minds up in regards to attending the match.
"Look, everybody is free to do what he wants with his season ticket," he said.
"We have to live with that. It's a Thursday night, it's unusual. We just had a disappointing result at home, maybe that plays a part as well. First of all it's not experienced yet and we have to live with that.
"But we have to take that with distance as well, and focus on our job. The emotional part in our game is always very high but changes very quickly as well.
"Judgement from people is something we have to live with. It's down to us to change that belief and judgement."
Wenger has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash, but it is unlikely Jack Wilshere will feature despite the 24-year-old playing the full 90 minutes twice for Arsenal's Under-21 side.
Tony Pulis backed Saido Berahino to find the net should West Brom be awarded another penalty against the Gunners.
The striker's turbulent season took another downward turn on Saturday when he had two penalties saved by Heurelho Gomes in Watford's 1-0 victory.
But Berahino remains on penalty duty and Pulis has seen no ill effects from his difficult afternoon.
"He has been brilliant. He has been as good as gold," said the Baggies manager.
"He missed two penalties. Everybody does it. The boy wanted to pick the second one up and take that one and he has missed that one.
"He will pick the next one up and take that as well and hopefully he will smash it into the back of the next.
"It's all character-building for him. He is a tremendous player. This year has been very much a rollercoaster season for him and things have happened to him that have never happened in his career before, but you dust yourself down and move on.
"The kid has been in there and the chances he has missed mean he will get stronger, but he won't stop going in there. He is that type of character."
West Brom have picked up only one point from their last four games but might have taken something in defeats by both Manchester City and Watford.
They are not mathematically safe from relegation yet but, with a gap of 10 points to the bottom three with five games left, the danger is minimal.
While the Baggies' thoughts might soon be turning to the beach, the same cannot be said of their opponents, with Thursday's match followed by a trip to title-chasing Tottenham on Monday, and European hopefuls West Ham and Liverpool still to come.
Pulis said: "The aim has to be to get as many points as we can. The next two games are going to be tough.
"I am desperate to get to the next stage and the next stage. And as we have seen, we have played well enough in the last two games to pick points up and not got points.
"It's a relentless league. Unfortunately in the last couple of weeks it has dropped against us."
Source: PAR
