Skip to content

Arsene Wenger says team selections put Arsenal first

Arsene Wenger during an Arsenal training session at London Colney
Image: Arsene Wenger says he will always pick a team that is best for Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists his team selection will always reflect what is best for the team.

Wenger has been picking two different sides to compete in the Premier League and Europa League this season.

Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Mohamed Elneny have mostly featured in Europe but have been left on the sidelines for the league campaign.

Jack Wilshere takes on Red Star Belgrade's Nenad Krsticic during the UEFA Europa League group H match at Emirates Stadium
Image: Jack Wilshere is one of the players who have spoken of their frustration at being left out this season

Wilshere, Walcott and Giroud have all spoken about their frustration at a lack of game time in the Premier League - with France striker Giroud currently being picked for his country.

But even Giroud, who is yet to start a league game this season, has been warned by France assistant manager Guy Stephan that he needs to play more - even if Wenger feels the 31-year-old has had plenty of opportunities.

Olivier Giroud of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Huddersfield Town at Emirates Stadium
Image: Olivier Giroud is aware he needs game time ahead of the World Cup next summer

"They have to make their decisions, I have to make mine," Wenger said of international managers. "I cannot consider too much the interest of the national team, even if I support France. I can only play with 11 players and the players have to deal with that and so do I.

"Overall I try to give them competition, which is what they have had until now. But these are discussions I have had with the players. It's part of it."

Also See:

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has responded to Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho's taunt over Alexandre Lacazette's fitness.

Wenger has been able to keep everyone relatively involved in first-team matters due to Europa League commitments.

But that will change after Thursday's final Group H game at home to BATE Borisov. With Arsenal already assured of progressing as group winners, the competition will not be back on the calendar until February.

"It is anyway difficult to keep them happy," Wenger said when asked if it would be more difficult to do so with a lack of European games in the coming months.

"You cannot keep players happy, but they deal well with it and it's a problem we all have to deal with.

"As a player, they fight and I must say this is a job where you always have to be ready. When you are called up you have to be ready.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger during a training session at London Colney (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Image: Wenger has praised the attitude of the players who are not picked every week

"Some manage to do it, some not. In the squad, this season more than ever, I cannot see a weakness in anyone's motivation and quality in training.

"That doesn't mean that the players who do not play, you respect them less. You respect people through their attitude and their attitude is fantastic."

Play Super 6
Play Super 6

Simply predict six correct scores to win the £250k jackpot. Enter your selections for free here.

Around Sky