Arsene Wenger Comments on Arsenal Fan Protest Ahead of Norwich City Match

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes there is a "personal agenda" at work to turn the fans on himself and the team, and he urged the Gunners faithful to get behind them against Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday amid reports of a planned protest at the Emirates Stadium during the match.

According to Sky Sports' Stephen Turner, the 66-year-old called out those who have criticised Arsenal's squad in his press conference on Friday:

"

I tell you, this team has character and attitude. Some people who question them, I know them well—they have less character than this team has. I saw them play, and even know them very closely, and they should not question the character of these players.

There are some groups of people that try to manipulate our fans, but I believe apart from a personal agenda and a big ego there's not a lot behind [the criticism].

"

He added:

"

I can understand the frustration. No one is more frustrated than me, but our disappointment has not to go too far.

When a club cannot enjoy anything any more, it is in trouble, and we have to not forget that in football you go down very quickly and you come up very slowly.

We lost the championship at home against lower teams, but we played sometimes at home in a very difficult climate. Away we are championship winners.

The club has very special values and one is to stick together and support the team—there is no success otherwise.

"

Per Turner, two of the Gunners' fan groups have organised a protest to take place at the Emirates, with banners set to read: "Time for change. Arsenal is stale—fresh approach needed."

Arsenal fans have grown increasingly frustrated at the club in recent months after witnessing their side fail to provide a serious challenge for the Premier League title yet again.

Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Their failure is particularly egregious this year with Leicester City and bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur stepping up in their place to fill the void left by Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United, who have all had poor seasons.

Further, with United holding a game in hand over Arsenal, their place in the top four is hardly secure, and should City win the UEFA Champions League or Liverpool win the UEFA Europa League, even fourth place may not be enough to qualify for Europe's elite competition.

Journalist Piers Morgan is among Wenger's most vocal critics, and he reacted angrily to the Frenchman's latest comments:

The Daily Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson believes the manager is not blaming the Gunners' failure on the fans, though:

Meanwhile, ESPN's Alex Shaw and BreatheSport took issue with Wenger's assertion their away form was worthy of the title:

"

Wenger: "Away from home we are the title winners."

Not even close. pic.twitter.com/vUlBV7WOa7

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) April 29, 2016"

Football writer Miguel Delaney also questioned Wenger's belief in his side's character:

Indeed, the Frenchman's continued defence of his players fails to convince given a look at how the Gunners have fared in recent months—they have won just three of their last nine Premier League matches and recently drew with struggling sides Crystal Palace and Sunderland, not to mention their FA Cup exit to Watford.

Should the fans agree with Morgan's perception that Wenger is blaming them for their season, the protests on Saturday will only become more vocal. In turn, that could hinder the team's chances of beating a Canaries side fighting for the lives.

However, their frustration is understandable, particularly as the boss has given little indication he will make significant changes to the team in the summer or in their approach despite their repeated failure in the league.

Little can salvage their campaign now, but Arsenal need to make sure of Champions League qualification, and that starts with a win over Norwich.