Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lends his support to Andre Villas-Boas claiming he needed more time after he was sacked by Tottenham

Wenger said at the beginning of the season that by making more than three signings in one transfer window you are taking 'a technical risk'

Andre Villas-Boas and Arsene Wenger shake hands ahead of the north London derby earlier in the season (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels all managers need time - and recalled how people thought he was crazy when suggesting former Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas would require just that to settle in all of his summer buys.

The Portuguese coach became the ninth permanent Spurs manager to be sacked at White Hart Lane since Wenger took over at their north London rivals in September 1996.

Last season, Spurs had pushed the Gunners all the way in the race for a top-four finish, inspired by the performances of star man Gareth Bale, who was sold to Real Madrid in the summer.

Tottenham used those proceeds to fund some £107million of new talent arriving, with the likes of Paulinho, Christian Eriksen, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches and Erik Lamela all joining in the summer.

However, trying to get all those new men to integrate proved in part Villas-Boas' downfall, with the Spurs boss eventually shown the door by Daniel Levy in the wake of the embarrassing 5-0 defeat at home to Liverpool on Sunday, which followed a 6-0 drubbing at Manchester City.

Wenger said: "You need time, yes.

"Look, when I said to you at the beginning of the season that when you sign more than three players you take a technical risk, you were all laughing at me, but it is a reality."

The Gunners boss continued: "If you look purely at the mathematical problem, yes (it is a surprise), because he has the highest percentage rate of wins historically at the club.

"Is it an internal problem with the relationship with his chairman or with the board? I don't know. Is it an emotional reaction to a big defeat at home? I hope not because that would not be a good sign."

Wenger continued: "I sympathise with everyone because you need to be a manager to know how much you suffer, you know how many sleepless nights are behind every manager and how much everybody wants to win.

"Of course you feel sympathy for people who lose their job."

Wenger may have seen off another of his rival managers from just down the Seven Sisters Road, but the Frenchman is only concerned with sustaining consistent results at Arsenal rather than what might be going on behind the scenes in the White Hart Lane boardroom.

"There is for sure a difference of philosophy (in changing managers), both can work," Wenger said.

"But I am not a specialist of Tottenham at all. I am just focused on doing things right for my club."

PA