Arsene Wenger has branded this week's criticism of Arsenal "a farce" and says he will not change his management style now

Sky Sports pundit - and former Wenger pupil - Paul Merson was just one of many high-profile names to question Arsenal's attacking approach in the wake of Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Anderlecht in the Champions League.

Wenger's side led 3-0 with an hour gone at the Emirates only for Anthony Vanden Borre's offside goal to spark a fightback, and the manager's decision to bring on Lukas Podolski and Tomas Rosicky at 3-2 was also criticised by some commentators.

But ahead of the Super Sunday trip to Swansea Wenger accused Arsenal's detractors of "bitterness" and getting their facts wrong.

He said: "You have to defend well and attack well. Why should you stop playing one of the aspects of the game. These debates that I hear are absolutely a joke, a farce.

"People who have managed zero games but they teach everybody how we should behave, it is a farce and honestly I can't be upset about it. It doesn't matter to me. Talk what you want.

"What is amazing is that when we concede goals two and three against Anderlecht we were never outnumbered. When we conceded the third goal we had nine players in our half.

"You feel people criticise without any proven fact, just because they like to criticise. It is more bitterness than real objective facts.

"The first goal turned the game and that is where you see that people just want to slaughter (you). Nobody speaks about the fact that the goal was offside, not one person.

"The criticism? If I really cared would I have survived 18 years? The answer is there. What I care about is that the players are punished or criticised in an unjustified way.

"You cannot say you don't care because everybody prefers to be told that he is great. Time tells you that you are never as great as people say and you're never as stupid as they say."

Wenger also rejected suggestions he might have strong words with his players before they take to the field at Swansea.

He said: "My job is to give a job to people and trust them to do it. If you can't do that you cannot be a manager. I can trust people I give a job to do and I will do it again on Sunday."


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