Sports
Arsenal stars feel guilty after letting Arsene Wenger down in the past decade, says Per Mertesacker
PER MERTESACKER admits that Arsenal’s players have let Arsene Wenger down.
Club captain Mertesacker reveals that there is a sense of sadness and guilt in the Emirates dressing-room over the manager’s imminent departure.
And he believes that Wenger is leaving at the end of the season because his team have not lived up to expectations.
Mertesacker claimed: “We sit here together and know that we have not been successful over the past couple of years.
“We have won the FA Cup, but in terms of achieving Champions League football every season we have not done it.
“In terms of top four finishes, we are not able to achieve it again this season. There are a lot of people responsible for that, not only the manager.
“It hasn’t sunk in enough to say we are guilty, but we are all responsible for this situation.”
Mertesacker issued an emotional address to the entire squad last Friday morning immediately after Wenger told them that he would be leaving next month.
He admits: “First of all we were surprised and then we were emotional and sad.
“You can feel that he still has a lot left in him in terms of the power he gives to the team.
“He told us that he wants to win every remaining game and leave in style and we gave him immediate feedback that we feel the responsibility to fight for him every time we step onto the field.
“His story is unique so we want to give him the best possible send-off so I am delighted we gave one answer against West Ham on Sunday.
“But there are more answers to come in the next couple of weeks.”
Mertesacker, 33, is in the final month of his playing career before taking up his new job as head of Arsenal’s youth academy in September.
And he is distraught that he won’t be starting his coaching career under Wenger’s careful guidance.
He says: “The boss has been the major figure at this club for more than 20 years and he was the best possible fit.
“Now we have to find someone who can start a new era and that is going to be really tough.”
The World Cup-winning German international signed for Arsenal in August 2011 the day after the team had been thrashed 8-2 by Manchester United.
He recalls: “The first time we talked on the phone, I was surprised that the boss could speak German so fluently.
“His calmness, especially in that first week after the 8-2 defeat, really struck me.
“I expected a storm of pressure but it was all about him calming everyone down and focusing.
“He trusted people to learn from their mistakes and he made me aware that there is still room in football for honesty and to care about people.
“So now we want to send him off in the way he deserves; with a trophy.”
That desire to end Wenger’s reign in style is shared by the entire squad, with Aaron Ramsey confirming: “He deserves all the plaudits he gets and hopefully we can finish the season off in style.
“We’re not thinking about who’s coming in next – it’s about doing it for Arsene. Winning the Europa League would be a perfect send-off for him.”
Former Arsenal star, Jack Wilshere, has sent a message to the Gunners ahead of their UEFA Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal will take on the French Ligue 1 giants in the Champions League final this year in Budapest on Saturday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side had lost 3-1 on aggregate against PSG in the Champions League semi-final stage last year.
Speaking on TNT Sports (via GOAL), Wilshere remembered Arsenal about their last year’s defeat to PSG and urged them to use it as a revenge to get a win against Luis Enrique’s side when both sides meet again this weekend.
“Now that the Premier League is over the line, I know that the Premier League was the one. I know that Mikel wanted that. I know that the boys wanted that,” Wilshere said.
“Now you have to go through some tough times and learn from it. I hope that the Champions League semi-final [PSG 3-1 Arsenal] last year hurt them enough that they can go on and use that [against PSG].
“I think when you are on the pitch, and you are playing against your direct opponent, you learn so much about them. And to face them next year, they will be better for that.”
Captain of the Super Falcons, Rasheedat Ajibade, has said the team is determined to become the best women’s football team in the world.
Ajibade spoke yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a reception hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in honour of the Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian ladies clinched their 10th continental title after a hard-fought campaign, further cementing their status as Africa’s most successful women’s team.
Ajibade, in an emotional speech, said the team’s goal goes beyond continental glory.
“We’re not content to rest on our laurels. Our vision is bold. We want to become the best women’s football team in the world,” the Atletico Madrid star said.
She described herself as “a proud daughter of Nigeria” and paid tribute to the dreams of young girls across the country who look up to the team.
“This victory is not just a trophy. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of Nigeria. It is a celebration of every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream,” she said.
Ajibade, who spoke on behalf of the team, coaches, and technical crew, thanked the Federal Government for its support and appealed for continued investment in women’s football.
President Tinubu, in his address, conferred national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all 24 players and the 11-member technical crew.
The President also approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments to each team member under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme and a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player, while members of the technical team received $50,000 each.
He praised the Falcons for lifting the nation’s spirit and inspiring unity through their performance.
“You have inspired millions, especially young girls who now see proof that their dreams are valid and achievable,” Tinubu said.
“You have inspired me too. You represent the hope of today, tomorrow, and the day after. You ignited that hope. And we will continue to encourage you and the next generation.”
The President said the Falcons’ WAFCON victory was not just a sporting feat but a symbol of the courage, discipline and resilience that define Nigerians.
“Your victory represents more than a sporting accomplishment. It is a triumph of courage, determination, discipline, and consistency,” he said.
The reception was attended by top government officials, sports administrators, and stakeholders in the football community.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the Super Falcons on their historic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
The Falcons, who came from two goals down to seal the win in Rabat, clinched their 10th WAFCON title—further cementing their status as the most successful team in the history of the competition. Reacting to the victory, Oseni described the performance as “a warrior’s triumph that speaks volumes about the indomitable Nigerian spirit.”
In a statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele in Ibadan, the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said the team’s resilience should serve as a symbol of hope and unity for the entire nation. “They refused to surrender. That comeback from two goals down defines who we are as Nigerians—strong, focused, and unstoppable when united,” he said.
The Falcons had gone behind in the 13th minute when Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak capitalised on a loose ball to fire past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. The hosts doubled their lead through Sanaâ Mssoudy before halftime, putting Nigeria on the back foot before the break.
However, second-half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini turned the game on its head, securing victory for Coach Justin Madugu’s side and avenging their 2024 semi-final loss to the North Africans. Oseni also hailed Madugu’s tactical brilliance, describing him as “the architect of a new chapter in women’s football in Nigeria.”
The lawmaker who also chairs the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) joined other national figures, including President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in celebrating the Falcons. The President had earlier taken to his verified social media accounts to praise the team’s performance, declaring, “Mission X: Complete!” while Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, described it as a flawless display of Nigerian spirit.
Oseni urged the Falcons not to rest on their laurels but to build on the momentum ahead of their title defence and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “This is just the beginning. You have inspired millions of girls across the continent. Keep flying the flag and keep making Nigeria proud,” he added.
He also called on sports authorities and private stakeholders to invest more in women’s football, noting that the team’s success was proof of the untapped potential in the sector. “We have global stars in the making. Now is the time to give them the platform and support they truly deserve,” the lawmaker submitted.
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