'Humiliated' Wenger refuses to quit
August 28, 2011
By ESPNsoccernet staff
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted he was left embarrassed by the emphatic nature of his side's 8-2 defeat to Manchester United, but with the pressure mounting on him denied he would quit his post.
Arsene Wenger banner Man Utd v Arsenal
PA PhotosArsenal fans showed their support for Arsene Wenger but their patience was wearing thin by the end of the game
Wenger has been under tremendous pressure in recent weeks, with calls for him to end his 15-year association with Arsenal growing louder as the Gunners have struggled on the pitch and sold star players Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.
But the Frenchman, whose three Premier League title triumphs makes him the most successful manager in the club's history, says he has no plans to leave Emirate Stadium.
"You feel humiliated when you concede eight goals,'' Wenger said. "It was a terrible day for us, it was a combination of an under-strength team and weakness. We collapsed physically in the second half.''
Asked if he might think about resigning during the upcoming international break, he was initially coy, saying: "I believe we have a break before the next game.''
However, he then ruled out the possibility, adding: "No, not at all.''
With three days to go before the end of the transfer window Wenger is under pressure to bring in new names, although he was again guarded about the addition of any players.
"I know that in England when you lose a game signings are always the solution,'' he said. "We had eight players out today. Anybody would suffer with eight players missing.''
Sir Alex Ferguson said he felt sorry for Wenger after the result.
"Of course I feel sympathy for him," Ferguson said. "He is a great football man. He has done an incredible job for Arsenal for 15 years. He has given them a quality of football that they have never experienced. He brought some exciting players to the club. He deserves respect for that."
He added: "When you play Arsenal, you don't expect that. We have had some great results against them in the past but when you see Arsenal had a weakened team like that, you do expect to score goals because all their quality was in the forward positions.
"When we hit form like that, someone suffers. Arsenal unfortunately suffered."
