Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 7y

Lincoln boss Danny Cowley given 'invaluable' help by Arsene Wenger

Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley has told the BBC that Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger spent more than an hour giving him help and advice after their 5-0 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Non-league Lincoln's fairytale run in the competition was brought to an emphatic end by Wenger's side, but they were given an ovation by the Arsenal fans.

And Cowley said he and his brother Nicky, his assistant manager, were invited into Wenger's office after the game.

"We had about an hour and a half with Arsene Wenger after the game and that will be invaluable, something we will cherish forever," Cowley said.

"The fact that he was willing to give us an hour, an hour and a half of his time after the week he's had says everything about that man."

The pressure on Wenger increased after last Tuesday's 5-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which completed a 10-2 aggregate defeat.

A growing number of Arsenal fans are calling for Wenger to step down when his contract expires this summer, but Cowley said the Frenchman's love of the game did not appear to be diminished.

"He still spoke really passionately, still has a real affection for the game and when you consider the amount of criticism he has had recently, the fact he still loves the game and talks with such enthusiasm was brilliant," he added.

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