By STEVEN HOWARD
IT was the most bizarre press conference of Arsene Wenger’s 16 years at Arsenal.
A mixture of anger, defiance, conspiracy theories and dripping sarcasm that suggested here was a man at the end of his tether.
Or on the end of a rope.
He has lost the plot often enough out on the touchline.
And there have been occasions when he has got the hump in press conferences.
But never quite like this — and never in front of the TV cameras.
After the Gunners’ shock FA Cup KO by Blackburn, following on the heels of the League Cup fiasco against Bradford, yesterday’s pre-Bayern Munich press conference was never going to be easy.
But Wenger turned it into a minefield, getting off on the wrong foot and never recovering.
He was wound like a coiled spring from the moment he sat down before the media at London Colney, reports he was about to sign a new two-year contract clearly infuriating him.
Or using it as a way of going on the offensive.
As he refuted the claims, he caught the eye of one journalist and demanded: “Why do you look at me like this?”
Paranoia reigned from that moment.
Asked then for his reaction to the Blackburn defeat, he added: “We will not talk about Saturday’s game. This is a pre-match conference regarding the Champions League.”
A German TV journalist, trying to play ball, dollied one up about the strength of the Bayern defence.
This should have been the cue for Wenger to start discussing what he had just said we were all there for.
Instead, he barked: “I’m not talking about Bayern Munich today.”
It was not just bizarre, it was totally irrational.
And so it went on with the assembled hacks barely able to believe what was going on.
When he was not on the front foot, seeking confrontation, the Arsenal boss was on the back, his arms folded tight across his chest, lips pursed with an almost manic look in his eyes.
I have been there since day one with Wenger, admired him enormously for everything he has brought to English football. But I’ve never seen anything like this.
When it was put to him that it had been a long time since Arsenal had won a trophy — eight years now — he responded tartly: “Thank you so much for asking that question…”
Somehow it got back to the Blackburn game and Wenger added: “We have been accused of not putting out a strong team. That is an insult to the players who played.
“There is a lot of superficial analysis. Yes, we live in a democracy of experts and opinions. But a lot of the experts are not always right.
“Yes, we have to accept we take the blame for going out, but you have to put things into perspective.
“You really think Bayern Munich have never lost to a smaller club? Or Manchester United? What I find unbelievable is that it’s a complete sensation when it happens to us.”
When it then came to Arsenal being in the last-chance saloon — and their chances of actually winning the Champions League — Wenger again reached for sarcasm and irony.
A sneer hovered over his lips as he said: “Of course we don’t want to win the trophy.
“In fact, we want to lose tomorrow’s game so you can all be happy.”
Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!
It was a mixture of Kenneth Williams and Basil Fawlty. What a Carry On.
And a real surprise because this is not normally Wenger’s way. Then again, I suppose we all have a breaking point.
But what a time to reveal his frailties — on the eve of his club’s most important game of the season. When he did try to bang the drum, it had a hollow ring.
As when he said: “We have been to the final, the semi-final and the quarter-final. We have a fantastic opportunity to do it again.
“I’m sure my players will prove me right.
“With this tournament, we have some unfinished business. But if I say we will win it, you will laugh at me.”
Zut alors! Sacre bleu!
