Arsene Wenger fires back at critics over Arsenal's FA Cup exit
Arsenal boss spits fire at journalists asking about his side's FA Cup exit as he prepares for Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rounded angrily on his critics ahead of today's crucial Champions League last 16, first-leg tie against Bayern Munich.
Wenger was in a tetchy mood last night after suffering a barrage of abuse from fans and pundits after his side's FA Cup exit on Saturday, when the Gunners were beaten 1-0 at home by Championship side Blackburn.
That represented the second humiliation of Arsenal's lacklustre campaign following their elimination from the League Cup at the hands of fourth-tier club Bradford.
After enduring 48 hours of criticism in the court of public opinion, Wenger made it clear he felt it was time for him to have his say, and that he expected his players to back up his words on the pitch against a Bayern side currently top of the Bundesliga thanks to 18 victories from 22 league games.
"We play for Arsenal Football Club, we are in the last 16 of the Champions League, we have qualified for a long, long time," Wenger said at a pre-match press conference.
"What is important is not what people say but what we produce on the football pitch. We live in a democracy of experts and opinions and we have to live and cope with that. We have to show we have the mental strength to deal with any opinion. There are a lot of experts who are not always right."