Arsene Wenger has hit back at Alisher Usmanov - and claimed his criticism make the Russian an "outsider" at Arsenal.

Usmanov, who owns a 30 per cent stake in the club, was damning in his remarks this week, claiming Gunners manager Wenger can't take criticism, that the north Londoners have fallen behind Europe's elite and their team needs to "strengthen in every department."

Wenger was in remarkably good spirits on Tuesday despite Arsenal's poor run of form, maybe just to prove that he can handle the flak, but he also took the chance to insist that Usmanov's remarks were wide of the mark.

On the eve of the home Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, Wenger said: "First of all, the 18 years I have been here, I have shown that I can take criticism. Everybody has the right to have an opinion.

"Having said that, we have values at this club.

"The first one is when we go through a difficult patch, we show solidarity. That is a very important one.

"The second one is that, when you have something to say to each other, we say it face to face. We don't need to go to the newspapers.

"I don't take it personally at all. It is an opinion that I respect but
when you're from this club, you're from this club. You're in or out, you cannot be both.

"What is important is how close we are together inside the club and how much we can respond to people who question our quality. I personally feel that there's a very strong bond inside the team and the club, and that this team will have a very strong season. I am ready to bet with you on that."

Russian revolution: Usmanov is calling for major changes at Arsenal (
Image:
Getty)

Despite his big stake in the club, Usmanov has been an outsider looking in. But his interview - conducted with TV channel CNBC at a conference in Rome last weekend - put him back in the spotlight and probably reflects what a lot of fans are thinking.

The curious thing with Usmanov is that he has stayed very respectful and gracious towards Wenger and his remarks are a big departure from his previous stance.

Usmanov - who tried but failed to overhaul majority shareholder Stan Kroenke - has a private box at the Emirates, has been invited into the directors' box on several occasions and has met Wenger quite a few times.

When asked about their relationship, Wenger said: "It is very good. I like him very much. But he is busy, I am busy.

"I believe that this group of players will have a very strong season. That's what I mean. I believe in what I do and I especially believe in my players, and in their quality and spirit. I question myself every day and I hope you do that as well.

Arsenal train for the Dortmund match:

"There are a lot of positives. For example, we are a team that gives very few chances away. We are the team with the least shots against in the Premier League. We are the team who creates more chances than any in the Premier League.

"There are a lot of positives there, but I agree with you that at the end of the day you win the game or lose the game. It depends sometimes on very little things. I think we have a good team dynamic and what doesn't work at the moment we can get right."

When quizzed as to whether he can take criticism and is too stubborn, Wenger said: "You really think you can do 30 years in my job and not take criticism? If I couldn't take criticism I wouldn't be here any more.

"You learn to adapt, you take a distance with what is right. You know part of the game is that. I am just frustrated and sad that people who love this club do not get the results they deserve and want."

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When this reporter pressed Wenger on whether dealing with criticism was his biggest challenge, he answered back with a big smile.

"No. I am like you, you know," said Wenger. "Do you like that everybody says that you are stupid? That's part of it. You learn to cope with it, believe  in what you think is right.

"I don't know any more what is fair. I know what happens after you lose a big game. I'm just disappointed at the moment, because there is life in our team, there's a dynamic in our team, theres quality in our team.

"We know where we failed on Saturday. I'm long enough in the game to know if there's something there or not, and there's a lot there. And it's part of our game - when you lose a big game, you get hammered."