Arsene Wenger has every sympathy for the plight of Blackburn boss Steve Kean, saying it's "hard for everybody" no matter what end of the table.The Lancashire club are bottom of the Premier League with a section of supporters planning a protest march ahead of the lunchtime kick off at Ewood Park demand a change in the dugout.
Kean maintains he can turn the club around with owners Venky's, who appointed the Scot after axing Sam Allardyce in December 2010, issuing a statement urging everyone to get behind the team. Wenger accepts in the modern game it is often difficult for young managers to get the time needed to move things forwards. "It is hard for everybody, even for those who manage for 30 years," said Wenger, who transformed the Gunners since taking charge in September 1996.
"I just believe this job is difficult. Every who has been in it knows it, and how much depends on the situation you are in at the moment." Wenger added: "I have a lot of sympathy for Steve Kean. He is a young manager and you want to give him time to do his job. "A lot of time you complain the British managers do not get a chance and I can understand that but when they do get a chance you must give them time."
Arsenal have endured one of the most testing openings to a campaign of Wenger's tenure, being thrashed 8-2 at Manchester United before the international break. However, following five signings ahead of transfer deadline to rebuild the squad after selling captain Cesc Fabregas and playmaker Samir Nasri, there are signs of positive improvement. The Gunners built on what was a nervy 1-0 win over Swansea last weekend, a first of the new Premier League campaign, with a hard-fought 1-1 Champions League draw at Borussia Dortmund. Wenger, who will have duo Alex Song and Gervinho back from their domestic three-match bans on Saturday, is certainly not dwelling on what he views as a "one-off" shocking day at the office against United.
"The atmosphere was very down after the Old Trafford game, but since we have put two results together and that changes straight away the atmosphere in the camp," he told a news conference. "People at the moment have a definite opinion. One game is played, and everyone knows who will win the European Cup, who will win the championship, everybody knows absolutely everything. "When it is wrong the next day, nobody says 'sorry I was wrong'." Wenger added: "You have to consider that last year we were the best away team in the league, and Old Trafford was a one-off result.
"You cannot take that as a general rule, and what we have achieved over the last few years away from home is what people forget. "We put a lot of effort in at Udinese, and lost a lot of players before that game at Old Trafford." Arsenal were far from their fluid best in labouring to victory against Swansea and were pegged back for long periods by Dortmund, who struck a fine late equaliser to deny the English club a rare away European win. Wenger, though, is in no doubt once the confidence returns, so will the Gunners brand of slick passing football. "What is important for us at the moment is to get the points and the best way for us to do that is to play well," he said, "Against Swansea we were under massive pressure and we will be again at Blackburn but let's focus on getting the ball, playing our game and then we will have a chance to win the game."
