Heynckes tells Arsenal fans to lay off Wenger
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LONDON (AFP) - Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes has urged Arsenal supporters to stop criticising Arsene Wenger because the Gunners boss can no longer compete financially with English football's big spenders.
Wenger has been under increasing pressure this season and heads into Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first leg against Bayern desperately needing to win the competition after an eight-year trophy drought. The Frenchman was already feeling the heat following Arsenal's embarrassing League Cup exit to Bradford in December and the criticism went up a notch following their shock FA Cup defeat to second-tier Blackburn on Saturday.
With their Premier League title aspirations long gone, some sections of the Gunners' support have called on Wenger to resign.
But Heynckes believes his opposite number should not shoulder the blame while the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City out-spend Arsenal every year. "Arsenal are a great team and Arsene Wenger is a very good coach. You can see his team has a very great dynamic about it," Heynckes said at a pre-match press conference on Monday.
