Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger makes defiant claim ahead of Brighton trip

The Gunners boss has always fought back against previous anger from fans about his fading leadership of Arsenal.

Now he has a new task – to instil a lost confidence in his star players, and to turn round the ocean of indifference from supporters following the successive 3-0 home League loss and Carabao Cup Final defeat to champions-elect Manchester City.

“I don’t need to pick myself up; that’s a subject we don’t need to talk about,” said Wenger sharply as he prepared for Sunday’s match away at Brighton.

“But of course I am trying to find solutions for the team, so that they feel comfortable and confident.

“Overall, at the moment, it’s difficult. But you have as well to take a little bit of perspective and understand that we played against a team (City) that is not only top quality, but in full confidence at the moment.”

“Our players want to make a point, but the confidence is low. To get in a cup final you have to fight hard and you hope to take the trophy home. It was a big disappointment for the players.

“On top of that they have to face a media storm that does not help, while the other side got plaudits. Confidence is a big part of the game.”

Wenger has more than enough football perspective after 22 years in charge at Arsenal – and his detractors would say too much.

There will always come a time, however many honours you have captured as a manager, and however many times you have restored dressing room confidence after a series of tough setbacks, that the time comes to depart the job.

Almost every neutral observer senses that moment has come now for Wenger, and hopes he will quit on his own terms rather than be forced out by a reluctant club.

This feeling underpins the current state of apathy. Few people want to launch cruel attacks. Fewer still believe he should remain manager beyond the end of this season.

Wenger could hardly disagree with a question about this season being worse than last year as the Gunners stand a distant sixth in the Premier League table, a whopping 30 points behind City, and are chasing success only in the Europa League.

“Yeah, it is,” he said, “because last year we won the FA Cup and made 75 points. I don’t deny that.

“We analyse that at the end of the season and don’t worry. I can live with reality.

The bigger question is whether the 68-year-old can live with the truth that his time is almost up at Arsenal? Does his outward defiance mask a realisation that his departure from a club that has been his life is imminent? If so, he isn’t letting on.

“What we have to focus on is winning matches,” said the veteran manager.

“Look at what the players produced physically against City (in the 3-0 League defeat) and you will be amazed. It’s the highest game of the season in the Premier League.

“The players produced the effort, but City took advantage of every single situation and after that, of course, it was much more difficult for us.”

There is some truth in Wenger’s words, and at their best this Arsenal team can resemble the quality of old.

But there is also some delusion. Their best football is now infrequent; consistency has flown away on biting cold winds of the winter of discontent for Arsene Wenger.