LONDON - ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger defiantly defended the potential of his young team after two crushing home defeats, and expressed indifference to fans' mounting frustrations.

Wenger is the club's most successful manager and has enjoyed an overwhelming period of support from fans, even during the past four years when Arsenal hasn't won a trophy. But the tension has been mounting over the course of the season and was compounded by heavy home losses to Manchester United and Chelsea this past week.

Arsenal supporters streamed out of Emirates Stadium in the thousands with 30 minutes left to play in the Champions League semifinal second leg on Tuesday after Manchester United went ahead 3-0 and eventually knocked the Gunners out of the tournament 4-1 on aggregate.

The fans again had seen enough on Sunday during the 4-1 league defeat to Chelsea, with thousands of empty seats well before the final whistle and widespread booing.

Wenger's response was curt and dismissive when asked after Sunday's loss what his message was to the fans, when it was suggested that their mass exodus on Wednesday and Sunday meant they were hurting.

'Everybody is free to leave the stadium when he wants,' he said without elaborating, pausing to wait for the next question.

Wenger said he didn't think Arsenal 'had a bad performance' on Sunday and that it shouldn't have been a 4-1 game because of the number of chances Arsenal created - an opinion not shared by many fans and observers who witnessed shocking defensive errors and a continual succession of mis-hit shots.

Wenger's undying loyalty to his vision for the club - developing a team of young players through Arsenal's system - is showing signs of cracking and he has suggested in the past few days that he may strengthen his squad over the summer. Wenger, who turns 60 in October, may be encouraged to go with experience after his winter purchase of Russia playmaker Andrei Arshavin paid immediate dividends.

But Wenger's stance appeared to revert to the status quo on Sunday, saying he didn't yet know how much funds will be available this summer and remained defiant when asked if the squad required a major overhaul.

'No, I believe we need to continue to improve,' he said. 'Things are not as doom and gloom as everybody wants to make it after defeat ... We have to continue to improve in the areas where we feel it is right. It doesn't necessarily mean quantity (of players) and not even quantity of money, just the right players.' -- AP