final with a 2-1 win over Manchester
City, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
remains unsure of his future.
Arsene Wenger once again refused to give
assurances about his future despite Arsenal
booking a place in the final of the FA Cup by
coming from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 at
Wembley.
Sergio Aguero gave Pep Guardiola's men the lead
on Sunday but Nacho Monreal brilliantly levelled
for Arsenal before Alexis Sanchez came up with the
winner in extra time.
Wenger has lifted the trophy in two of the last three
years but with the Frenchman's contract set to
expire at the end of the season, his future has been
the subject of intense speculation.
Asked at his post-match press conference if
Arsenal's Wembley display gave him optimism for
next season, Wenger replied: "I don't understand
your question.
"The club is in a very strong shape. We have a
very strong overall situation and a very strong
team. We have shown that today. One day I will
leave anyway, what's most important is that I'm
sure Arsenal will always be a great club that
everybody admires.
"Honestly I feel when you see today how big this
club is I feel just happy when our fans go home
tonight and are happy. When I don't win the games
I feel sad because I don't feel that I gave people
what they want.
"We have gone through a very difficult period and
we faced some adversity that made the situation
more difficult, from inside as well. We have shown
a united response, not a divided response."
Wenger again used a back three to face City having
successfully trialled the system in a victory at
Middlesbrough on Monday and the Arsenal
manager felt the switch contributed to his side's
increased confidence.
"I like your question because it shows what our job
is," Wenger replied when questioned about
Arsenal's defensive shape. "No matter what you
do, even if you get it right, people say why didn't
you do it earlier?
"The opposite is right as well. If you get your
starting line-up wrong and change it at half-time
people say 'you see, he's a tactical magician
because he changed it at half-time'. But they forgot
he got it wrong at the start. You can always judge
in both ways.
"What I did was just give a bit more security to a
team who had conceded in three goals in three
away games. At some stage you need to focus on
something different for the players to create some
confidence.
"During the season I've made some tough
decisions. We've gone through a difficult period.
It's my job to get it right."
Defenders Gabriel and Rob Holding both excelled as
part of Arsenal's new look back line and Wenger
praised the Brazilian for the way he helped cover
for makeshift right wing-back Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain.
"Gabriel has played some positive games as a
right-back," the Frenchman added. "I felt that he
was covered by somebody who had good pace, I
felt he could cover for Chamberlain on [Leroy]
Sane's ball through.
"Sane goes a lot in behind and Gabriel has the
pace to cover in behind, to tackle, and he did that
very well - especially in the second half. He saved
three or four goals. He played right-back. He
played centre-back. Now he's playing in a position
between the two."
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