Arsene Wenger is a broken man. Looking set to finish third or fourth in the Premier League for the 11th consecutive year in a trophyless season that will likely mark the first time in 21 years that Arsenal will finish behind Spurs, the club’s fans have been voicing their discontent even louder than usual in recent weeks.

So an embittered Wenger has decided to strike back in an extremely stupid and unfounded way. By blaming the fans and a “very difficult home climate” for his team’s failures.

From the Guardian:

“We lost the championship at home against the lower teams – we have the best record against the top clubs – but we played at home in a very difficult climate. We have to realise that, away from home, we are championship winners [Arsenal actually boast the third best away record in the division at present]. At home, against the smaller teams, we lost the league. This club does have special values though and one I’ve experienced over the years is to stick together and support the team. There’s no success without that.

“But some groups of people try to manipulate our fans, and I believe apart from an agenda – a personal agenda, a big ego – there’s not a lot behind it.” Piers Morgan, who has been vociferous in his criticisms of Wenger on social media, immediately suggested on Twitter that the Arsenal manager was directing his criticism at him, though the Frenchman would not elaborate on whom he was commenting.

This is so wrong on so many levels. First and foremost, as the Guardian points out, Arsenal do not have the best away record this season. That would be first-place Leicester, followed by Spurs, and then Arsenal, who have more points from fewer home matches this season.

So that blows Wenger’s theory out of the water right there.

Secondly, claiming that fans protesting your poor results is the reason for said poor results is just asinine. And third, Piers Morgan is certainly an awful man with a big ego and has been vocal about his desire to see Wenger sacked, but I doubt even Morgan himself would suggest that Arsenal supporters souring on Wenger had anything to do with him.

Results aside, this thought process alone should be enough to prove why it’s time for Wenger to move aside. Statements like these make his position untenable.