Football
ESPN staff 8y

Koscielny understands fans' anger, insists Wenger is right man for Arsenal

Defender Laurent Koscielny is aware of Arsenal fans' anger for the team's lack of silverware but insists Arsene Wenger is the right man for the job.

The Frenchman has been a mainstay in the Gunners defence since joining the Premier League giants from Lorient in 2010, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield twice in that time.

This season started out well for Arsenal, but the London side have since gone on a downward slide, exiting the Champions League and FA Cup this month.

Their only chance of silverware comes in the Premier League, but an 11-point gap from leaders Leicester City may be too big a mountain to climb despite having a game in hand.

"Now we've got eight finals left, we have no room for error anymore, we've used up all of our joker cards." he told The Daily Mail. "We will have to get stuck in, not just think that playing football -- and good football -- will be enough to win matches.

"We will have to be winners and to win games. That's the most important thing now, to pick up points."

The last time Wenger guided Arsenal to the league title was in the 2003-04 season, where they went the whole campaign unbeaten with 26 wins and 12 draws, to lift the trophy with 90 points.

Since then, they have come close on numerous occasions but the elusive title looks destined to go the way of Leicester or archrivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Their failure to mount a sustained title challenge has prompted Arsenal fans to unfurl banners and call for Wenger to step down, but Koscielny is fully behind his manager, and says that 66-year-old is unfazed by the increasing gripe around the terraces.

"With regards to Arsene, I think he has seen other banners since he's been at the club. The coach is very serene." he added.

"He knows what he's done for the club. But I can understand the frustration of the fans, the club hasn't won the title for a long time. But we're doing our best every season to lift this trophy.

"There are ups and downs in the season with injuries and lack of form, but I think the coach is still the right man to help us win the league, even if we only have a very small chance."

Arsenal's next game will be a home match against Watford on April 2, while Leicester and Tottenham take on Southampton and Liverpool, respectively.

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