Arsene Wenger says reports of rift with Steve Bould are 'lies'

Reports have claimed that the Frenchman and his understudy have a difference of opinion over which direction to take the club who are still smarting after Tuesday night’s shock League Cup defeat to Bradford.

However Wenger, whose side have endured their worst start to a league season since his arrival in 1996, was defiant today, insisting his players would bounce back.

“We are a united staff and team. You can unfortunately not control all the lies that are written in the newspapers,” said Wenger, whose team travel to Reading on Monday.

“I believe it is a good opportunity to show that we are strong inside the club and let people talk.

“We are criticised when our results are not good — we have to take that on the chin, but that we have to face a lot of lies is less acceptable.”

While Wenger appears to retain the support of a majority of the club’s supporters, his detractors are growing in number and are becoming increasingly vocal.

Following the loss at Valley Parade, former Gunner Stewart Robson, who works as a pundit on Sky Sports, labelled Wenger a “dictator,” adding that the 63-year-old should have left the north Londoners “three or four years ago.”

However Wenger insisted that he still has much to give the club. “I am very determined and very hungry and, if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t sit in front of you,” he said.