Wenger - The criticism of the Club has been over the top

Arsène Wenger thinks his team's faltering challenge at home and in Europe needs to be put in perspective.

At his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Arsenal manager reminded everyone that his team were written off last summer and have proved a number of people wrong by challenging for the title and beating the European champions, Milan.

"When you lose a big game you always get criticism," acknowledged Wenger.

"The only thing is that people criticise you and if you are right nobody says sorry because at the beginning of the season we were supposed to finish between 10th and 15th. Now they slaughter us because we were third. I don't understand the logic of that.

"We have lost a big game, we have to swallow it and be criticised maybe, but not on the basic philosophy of the Club. That's what I don't understand.

"We made mistakes against Liverpool but to say that something is wrong at the Club is going overboard because this Club is admired all over the world for the football we play, for the quality of our behaviour, and I think we have been unfairly punished in the games against Liverpool. It would help sometimes if somebody said that.

"If you say we maybe lack maturity, perhaps you are right, but to suddenly have to kick everybody out and buy 10 new players? I don't see why, even if you have money."