Wenger reveals fourth official embarrassment

Arsène Wenger reveals he sometimes cringes when he sees himself on TV confronting a fourth official

Arsène Wenger sometimes cringes when he sees himself on TV confronting a fourth official (EPA)

Arsène Wenger has admitted that he sometimes embarrasses himself with his touchline behaviour. While Arsenal’s players are far better behaved than they used to be, Wenger revealed that he sometimes “questions himself” over his conduct towards the fourth official.

“I question myself on my individual behaviour, that’s true, because I am sometimes keen to as well,” Wenger said. “But with the team [confronting referees] I don’t think we have had too much of that problem.”

Wenger revealed that he sometimes has to reproach himself after talking to the fourth official. “I don’t think it helps to get the frustration out on the fourth officials,” he said. “I don’t think it is right, honestly. That doesn’t mean that I don’t do it. I do. I have looked back on the tape sometimes. Even, sometimes at half-time, I think: ‘Come on, stop that my friend, you know.’ And I think in the second half I will not say a word to him any more.”

Arsenal play at Newcastle United in the Premier League today and Wenger said he is “tempted” to rest Alexis Sanchez, with the £32m forward suffering a dip in form. Sanchez has scored just one goal in his last 11 appearances.

“He is a bit [fatigued],” Wenger said. “Because he is in a position where he has scored less, he wants to force his game and then he is more included in physical battles. Maybe his goal-scoring is on his mind so he wants to do too much and he wants to force his game.”

“I am tempted [to give him a break],” he added. “I have been for a long time.”