'Old' wenger never learns: Wenger accused of not learning from his mistakes at Arsenal

Arsène Wenger

Alisher Usmanov, Arsenal’s second largest shareholder after Stan Kroenke, has accused Arsène Wenger of failing to learn from his mistakes and claims the club must strengthen every area of the team to compete with Europe’s elite.

The Russian billionaire stressed his desire to see Wenger reintroduce success at Arsenal but expressed his concerns that the Frenchman’s “principles” could be holding the side back following another defeat at the hands of Manchester United that continued a miserable recent record against the Premier League's strongest sides.
Speaking to CNBC, Usmanov said: "He is one of the greatest coaches, not just of European, but of world football. But we have a Russian proverb which goes: "Even an old lady can have a roof falling on her.
"Everybody makes mistakes. He can make mistakes and I know as you age it is more difficult, more challenging to accept one's mistakes. Does (Wenger) have money or not? There is officially money in the club.
"Arsenal is a dream that sometimes becomes a mirage and sometimes a pain as every dream. (The) potential of the team is there but there is no critical evaluation of mistakes and they need to need to acknowledge them. Because no genius can retain the same level of genius if they do not acknowledge mistakes. It's only when you admit your mistakes that you can get rid of them.
"My opinion – and I tell it openly – we need to strengthen every position to play on the level of such teams in (the) UK as Chelsea and Manchester City, in Europe like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and other clubs."
The 2-1 defeat to United left Arsenal in eighth place in the Premier League with four wins from 12 matches – their worst start to a season since the 1982-83 – and prompted Wenger to label his side "defensively naive".
Elsewhere, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has "a lot of similarities" to former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, according to Ryan Giggs.
Van Gaal replaced David Moyes as manager in the summer, a year after Sir Alex's 26-year stay at the club ended.

And Giggs, 40, who is now assistant manager at the club under Van Gaal, said the Dutchman's "intensity and preparation" reminded him of Ferguson.
"He demands that in every training session," Giggs told BBC Radio 5 live.
"He wants the same intensity as if it was a game.
"There are a lot of similarities to Sir Alex. He sets standards and if you drop below them he is not happy."
Former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss Van Gaal, 62, led the Netherlands national team to third place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil prior to joining Manchester United.
In his first news conference at the club he spoke of his "strong personality" - and reminded his audience it was a trait he shared with former United boss Sir Alex.
United moved into the top four for this first time this season with Saturday's 2-1 win at Arsenal, but Giggs says they have been hampered by a lengthy injury list.
Defenders Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Rafael, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans, midfielders Daley Blind and Jesse Lingard and striker Radamel Falcao are all currently sidelined.
"You are seeing attacking football, us trying to score goals and taking the risks but we have not been able to get any consistency due to injuries," said Giggs, who became the most decorated player in English football history under Ferguson at Old Trafford.