Arsene Wenger tells Gary Neville to stop being ‘ridiculous’ over Arsenal preparations

Arsène Wenger claimed Arsenal have made ‘big strides forward’ since the start of the year

Arsenal go to Watford this evening hoping to build on their impressive 3-0 demolition of Manchester United (Getty Images)

Arsène Wenger has dismissed as “really ridiculous” Gary Neville’s claim that Arsenal do not prepare for specific opponents.

The Sky Sports pundit said in August, as part of a critique of Wenger and Arsenal, that they do not “adapt their team” depending on the strengths or weaknesses of the opponent. Responding to Neville’s claim yesterday, Wenger contemptuously dismissed it.

“We just turn up on Saturday, just go out and play,” Wenger said sarcastically. “Honestly, I am 30 years in this job. I have a good tolerance level to sometimes listen to things that are really ridiculous. Honestly, I can do it.”

Arsenal go to Watford this evening hoping to build on their impressive 3-0 demolition of Manchester United two weeks ago. They are just two points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and Wenger is confident their form since the turn of the calendar year shows they have reached a new level.

“We see that the numbers of chances created, and shots given away to our opponents, allow us to believe we have made big steps, strides forward,” he said. “We have to show that on the pitch with our results. We feel since 1 January 2015 we have moved forward. Now we have to show we can do that through the football season as well.”

On 1 January, Arsenal lost 2-0 at Southampton, a defeat that prompted Arsenal to drop goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and reconsider their defensive priorities. Since that day they have taken 57 points from 25 Premier League games, with 18 wins. “We have had better balance between attacking and defending,” said Wenger. “We have conceded less goals. We had many clean sheets in the second part of last season.”

“As well we won the FA Cup, let’s not forget that. We had a convincing game against Manchester United, which was a very important game for us, so the belief is strengthened. Overall, in the last two years we have moved up.”