George Graham: Sort it out or face the sack Arsene Wenger

Posted Tuesday, September 20, 2011 by Dailystar.co.uk

George Graham: Sort it out or face the sack Arsene Wenger
Above: Alex Song, Andre Santos and Laurent Koscielny look stunned as Arsenal crash at Blackburn

George Graham has told Arsene Wenger to sort out Arsenal’s defence – or pay with his job.

Last Saturday’s 4-3 defeat at Blackburn condemned the Gunners to their worst start to a season in 58 years.

Arsenal have already leaked 14 goals in just five games this season – including eight at Manchester United.

They sit just one place above the relegation zone on a measly four points. Former Gunners boss Graham built his reputation and won the 1988-89 league title on the back of a rock-steady defence.

But he fears Wenger’s current leaky line-up could ultimately cost the Frenchman his job.

“It should be better, I don’t think it could get much worse,” said Graham.

“He’s been there for 15 years, this is probably going to be the toughest period.

“With the quality of the players, we don’t know how good they’re going to be. “Some of the players he’s brought in, the fans don’t even know who they are.

“In the past he’s brought in players, good players, that he’s turned into world-class players. Now the jury’s out.

“Can the players he’s brought in recently turn out to be as good as those from the past?”

Centre-half Per Mertesacker and full-back Andre Santos were two of five new signings drafted in during the final few days of the summer transfer window, with the season already well under way.

But Graham believes Wenger got his timing all wrong. “I would like to know who was responsible for the approach to the new season,” he said.

“It’s been generally known they had to shore up the defence. I think they left it a bit late to bring in all these players.

“Two weeks of the season had gone by, and he’s not had time to work with the players he’s brought in – especially the defence.”