Wenger blasts stars ahead of Bayern clash
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, February 19, 2013
Arsene Wenger accused his Arsenal stars of lacking mental maturity after their shock English FA Cup defeat against Blackburn Rovers added to the gloom around the Emirates Stadium.
Wenger was so furious with his players' lackluster showing against the Championship club on Saturday that he delivered a rare public dressing down to the team when asked what had gone wrong in the 0-1 fifth-round loss.
The Gunners manager, reportedly set to be offered a new two-year contract, believes his players may have underestimated Blackburn, a failing that showed a lack of the character needed to play at a club where winning every game is vital. "I think we have a great team, but this shows that we still have to show more maturity on the mental front. We have to understand what it means to win big games, and this was a big game for me," Wenger said.
"I am the first to stand up and say I am responsible for the team selection, but that is not an excuse: if we cannot beat Blackburn like that, I don't think it is down to the selection of the team.
"The top level is about consistency in every single game and that is what we could not show.
"Coming after the Sunderland game we came out with a flat performance and that shows that, mentally, we are not capable at the moment of preparing in exactly the same way for every game."
Arsenal now faces an uphill battle to end its eight-season trophy drought, with the Champions League its last remaining hope of silverware.
Bayern Munich, which faces the Gunners in the last 16 first leg today, is likely to pose a stern challenge to Arsenal's European ambitions and even Wenger concedes it is unlikely the team will be able to go all the way.
"It is vital for us to fight for silverware, but unfortunately this one will not happen for us now and we can only look at ourselves and not complain about anything else," Wenger added.
"Now it is vital for the end of our season that we respond in a strong way on Tuesday night."
While Frenchman Wenger is downbeat about Arsenal's chances, the club's England midfielder Jack Wilshere is more confident.
Wilshere claims Arsenal can draw inspiration from the way Chelsea struggled in the English Premier League last season but still managed to win the Champions League against the odds.
"Chelsea are an inspiration for everyone. They weren't having a good season and, okay, they got a bit lucky in some games but they showed great character and we need to do that," Wilshere said.
"We need to come together as a team We have good leaders here, a good team atmosphere. That will help us.
"We know what Bayern are capable of. They have a great team. We need everyone behind us and we go again.
"We have beaten big European teams here before so now we need to do it again."
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