Football
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Arsene Wenger not concerned about criticism of Arsenal this season

LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested that those criticising him for overseeing the club's worst start to a season in 32 years need to look at the bigger picture.

While Wenger declined the chance to hit back at his critics when offered the chance by reporters at a news conference on Friday, he insisted the Gunners are moving in the right direction despite the disappointing results that have left them 15 points off Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday confirmed their passage to the last 16 of the competition for a 15th consecutive season and Wenger said that consistency should be applauded.

"I don't want to discuss criticism. I've worked here for 18 years, I am committed to my club," Wenger said. "What I believe is there is a strong dynamic in our team, there is a life in our team, there is desire in our team.

"In the games we lost, there was always something happening in the team. That is for a manager the most important thing. I am very positive about this team because there is something special in there. We have just to keep going.

"We analysed the Man United game [a 2-1 defeat last weekend] very well and there is much more positives in the Man United game than the negatives. Football people made a different analysis of that game than the media. We can take a lot of positives from that. I am always confident we will win and the only important thing is our next game.

"It was a big game of very, very high intensity [against Dortmund]. I think we had an outstanding performance. It allows us to qualify for the 15th consecutive year in the last 16 of Europe. We are the only ones to do that and we are of course very proud of that. It allows us to concentrate on our last game now and try to top the group, but it looks unlikely because Dortmund play at home and they have a good chance to beat Anderlecht."

Wenger was then quizzed about the future of forward Lukas Podolski, who has been linked with a move to Wolfsburg in the upcoming January transfer window.

"I have good connections with Lukas," Wenger said. "We talk about his situation, he faces big competition on the flanks. Basically, that is the consequence of him not getting the number of games he wants. He has an outstanding attitude, works very hard in training and he needs to be ready for the club. I have had no enquiry about Podolski from anybody. We expect him to stay."

Wenger also insisted there was no truth in reports that he is planning to make a bid for unsettled Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech in January, but said he intends to keep his options open as he considers bringing new players into the club.

"January might be the month when we have nearly everyone back," Wenger added. "[Laurent] Koscielny is back, [Mathieu] Debuchy is back in two weeks. We have gone through a period when we are very short, but in January we will try to get at least one body in."

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