Wenger vows: I’ll do it my way

ARSENE WENGER accepts everyone is entitled to their opinion on how to get the best out of his Arsenal side — but declared “I will do it my way”.

The Gunners head into today’s north London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on the back of successive Premiership defeats which have left their title dreams in tatters.

Former manager George Graham — who won the league championship twice, in 1989 and 1991 — believes Wenger’s faith in his youngsters is misplaced, that the senior men who left should have been replaced with experienced campaigners and “fans will not accept four years of failure”.

Wenger, however, remains committed to his own ideas of how to take the club forward.

“I have great belief,” he said.

“At the moment it looks a little bit that maybe I do not know where I want this team to go – but they will get where I want them to go.”

Wenger added: “I am not a beginner and know when you do not win a game or two people have their opinion.

“I do not even take it in the wrong way.

“But I am responsible, I do the job and I do it like I want to do.

“I know where I am going and I will do it my way.”

The Gunners boss continued: “When you do not win games everybody has an opinion – but if I look at the number of titles Arsenal have won in their history, not many have done better than I have done.

“I believe in a consistent way.

“We have shown great consistency – some clubs have spent much more money and are far behind us in the last few seasons.”

The Gunners are currently sixth in the table – 16 points behind leaders Manchester United, albeit with a match in hand on all of the sides above them.

Last season, Wenger’s side emerged from a slow start to finish strongly, claiming fourth place in the Premiership and reaching the Champions League final.

However, their progress has slowed somewhat in the new campaign, as they have struggled to kill teams off at their new 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium home.

The Arsenal manager, though, has every confidence the future is a bright one.

He said: “Sometimes it takes a little bit of time for the players to develop, but I am very confident they will be great players.

“They will grow into leaders – you have to give them time.

Arsenal will be without captain Thierry Henry tomorrow for the first north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

The striker had been struggling with a neck injury, and missed the trip to Bolton last weekend. However, further tests have now discovered a problem with the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the leg.

Wenger said: “You focus on the players who play and we are good enough to win the game without him.”

Martin Jol’s men have improved recently after a poor start to the season and are going well in the UEFA Cup.

“Tottenham have moved forward,” said Wenger.

“They are a good side. They will develop because everywhere they go, they try to play.”