Arsene Wenger won't be celebrating a dozen years as Arsenal manager today after losing 2-1 to Hull in a shock home defeat in the Premier League.
Wenger has won three league titles and four FA Cups since joining Arsenal in 1996, but the trophy case is gathering dust. The north London club hasn't won the league since 2004 or a major trophy since the FA Cup in 2005.
The latest defeat to Hull yesterday, the eve of his 12th anniversary as coach, was another blow to the 58-year-old Frenchman.
"There's nothing to celebrate (today)," Wenger said. "Even if we had won, there was nothing to celebrate anyway."
It was the second defeat this season to weaker opposition, with Arsenal losing 1-0 to Fulham on Aug. 23. The Gunners bounced back to win their next three and propel themselves into first place. It was short-lived, however, and they now sit fourth in the league after six matches with 12 points, just behind Aston Villa.
This is Hull's first season in top flight football since the club from northeast England was founded in 1904 and the Tigers played aggressive football to defeat Arsenal.
Three of the goals Arsenal has conceded this season, including one yesterday, came from poor defending of corners.
"It is a weakness in our team, but it is linked with the level of concentration. You can spend working hours on the training pitch, but if you don't attack the ball on the day of the game," Wenger said, cutting off the sentence and moving on to say "I believe it's down to how much you want the ball."
Wenger also criticized his team's concentration, attitude and commitment to winning the match. Arsenal took the lead in the 51st minute when Theo Walcott weaved into the area with excellent control and passed to Emmanuel Adebayor, whose flick to Cesc Fabregas saw the ball come off Hull defender Paul McShane into the goal.
Hull equalized 11 minutes later when midfielder Geovanni struck a powerful 30-meter (yard) shot past goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
Striker Daniel Cousin put the Tigers ahead in the 66th minute with a header from an in-swinging corner.
"Hull was committed and it's a good learning lesson for us because the commitment was on their side," Wenger said. "We know that from this kind of game in the league, when your attitude from the start on is not good enough, you're at risk to lose the game.
"After we were 1-0 up, that's where we were a bit careless instead of pushing on and scoring the second goal."
Wenger is concerned about lingering aftereffects the loss may have on Arsenal's domestic campaign. He faces mounting pressure to deliver a first league title since 2004, but is trying to do so on a much smaller budget than his main rivals.
When asked about Tuesday's Champions League match against FC Porto, he said: "I'm more concerned by the Premier League at the moment. It's very concerning when you lose a game like we lost it today."
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily September 28, 2008)