Arsenal hero: Don’t blame Wenger for trophy drought

Former Gunner Freddie Ljungberg thinks the Arsenal board need to get behind Arsene Wenger. Picture: Tony Marshall/EMPICS

Sunday, August 26, 2012
12:31 PM

Freddie Ljungberg is worried that the Arsenal board are not giving manager Arsene Wenger the right financial backing

Former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has given manager Arsene Wenger his backing amid fears that the Gunners’ trophy drought could continue.

Arsenal have lost Robin van Persie to Manchester United and Alex Song to Barcelona this summer and Ljungberg thinks the board need to give Wenger more money to spend on replacements.

The newly retired 35-year-old thinks the Frenchman is not being given the same financial backing as he was earlier in his Arsenal tenure.

“I am a fan like everyone else and I want us to win trophies,” the Swede told the Sunday Mirror.

“That hasn’t happened for seven years and maybe Arsene Wenger doesn’t get the funding,

Ljungberg, a key member of the Arsenal’s unbeaten ‘Invincibles’ squad of 2003-04, says the Gunners are suffering from no longer signing proven winners such as Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Sol Campbell.

“All I know is that when I was at Arsenal, every summer he was able to bring in a big signing, a proven winner.

“That doesn’t seem to happen now. It is unfair to just blame Arsene because he is a fantastic manager.

“I just hope that he can be given the money to fund the transfers he wants.

“I wouldn’t know if the board is giving Arsene the money to do that.”