Arsene Wenger hits out at Arsenal protesters for 'wasting their day'

Prior to the manager's mid-week press conference, three protesters travelled to Arsenal’s training base in London Colney to call for the manager to step down

Wenger expressed his dismay at the protesters (Getty)

Arsene Wenger has condemned a small contingent of Arsenal fans who staged a protest against the Frenchman at the club’s training ground on Tuesday morning, stating that “it is good that they can waste their day like that”.

Prior to Wenger’s mid-week press conference, three protesters travelled to Arsenal’s training base in London Colney to call for the manager to step down.

With disaffection reaching boiling point among sections of the Arsenal fan base, this is the first time that protests against the Frenchman have been staged at the Gunners’ training ground.

But speaking ahead of his side’s clash with West Ham United on Wednesday night, Wenger was in no mood to acknowledge the protests.

“It is three guys. Honestly,” he said. “Why should I waste energy on that? Honestly.

“I don’t know what to say. It is good that they can waste their day like that.”

With Arsenal currently experiencing their worst run under Wenger since he joined the club, in which the side have managed just two wins from their last seven fixtures, calls for the 67-year-old to step down continue to surface with each passing week.

An estimated 400 ‘Wenger-out’ fans gathered outside the Emirates’ old Highbury East stand ahead of Arsenal’s humiliating 5-1 defeat by Bayern Munich last month, while ‘Wenger-out’ banners were displayed during the side’s subsequent 2-0 victory over Sutton United.

More recently, pro-Wenger fans clashed with those calling for his resignation during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.

But amid such a turbulent backdrop, Wenger remains unperturbed and has insisted he is “not scared” by the increasing unrest at the club.

“Honestly, I am professional and when you are professional you perform in ideal conditions and non-ideal conditions,” he added on Tuesday.

“I love to win football games. I just focus on that. I work for my club with honesty and integrity.

“I am not scared. I accept the judgement of people and focus on the game. That’s it.”

Call for Arsenal to step down as manager continue to persist (PA Wire/PA Images)

The Arsenal manager also refused to accept the need to “change” his philosophy at the club, but argued “evolution” was instead vital to taking his side forward.

When asked if he needed to reinvent himself, Wenger replied: “That has nothing to do with you to change. That is something to do with you to improve.

“My battle in my whole life is to improve and to be better. That is evolution, not change. Change is the heart of who you are. That’s difficult. Evolution? Yes.”