Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Gael Clichy warns Arsenal fans to be careful what they wish for as he hails 'perfect' Arsene Wenger

'The manager does not really deserve what he is getting,' Clichy said after Sunday's 2-2 draw

Chief Football Writer

Monday 03 April 2017 12:05 BST

Clichy spoke in defence of the Arsenal manager (Getty)

Manchester City’s Gael Clichy has warned Arsenal fans to be careful what they wish for, insisting that Arsene Wenger might just be the “perfect man” for the club if they invest behind him, and said that his former boss does not deserve the nature of recent criticism.

Having left Arsenal in 2011, Clichy returned on Sunday for City’s 2-2 draw, that saw another fan protest against Wenger’s management before the game. The full-back, however, spoke out in defence of the 67-year-old.

“It is hard, yes, because the manager does not really deserve what he is getting,” Clichy said. “I can understand because football is free for everybody to have opinions so you cannot stop that. And you cannot only think about the past because it is also about the present. But I don’t think many managers could have done what he has in the last 10 years – you know the story better than me. You always want something new when you are used to something and what you get is probably most of the time not better than what you have so you have to be careful what you wish for.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Show all 22

1/22Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Arsenal Petr Cech 6 out of 10

His goal was shielded ably by Arsenal’s backline, but when called upon he was not found wanting, saving well down low from De Bruyne early on. He might, though, have done better for Toure’s goal.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Bellerin 6 out of 10

Back to his best at both ends, particularly putting in a tidy shift defensively where he cut out several attempts to spread the play out wide.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Mertesacker 7 out of 10

Dominant in the air throughout. City had plenty of corners but with Mertesacker in the area Arsenal never looked threatened.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Koscielny 7 out of 10

Set the tone as early as the third minute when he whipped the ball off Aguero’s feet as he looked to break. Bar one miskick in the first half this was excellent from Koscielny, who tidied up loose passing from City well.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Monreal 6 out of 10

Solid in defence and valuable in attack just like his compatriot at the other end. Early on he let De Bruyne break too often but he soon fixed that.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Flamini 6 out of 10

Took it upon himself to stick to Silva throughout and so he deserves credit for the tough time City’s playmaker had. At times he can be bypassed too easily on the counter attack but his organisation of the backline was critical.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Ramsey 7 out of 10

All the questions around Ramsey ahead of the game were about his defensive game; he answered them in style time and again. His tackle count may not be the highest, but he was always back doing his duty. In the second half he embraced his licence to bomb on against City’s diffident backline and could have had a goal.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Campbell 8 out of 10

A 40 yard sprint to add ballast to defence in an early City counter typified everything that has been good about Campbell. Committed at both ends of the field he brought perfect balance to the lineup, whilst his understanding with Bellerin improves by the day. Deserved a goal to seal a man of the match display.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Ozil 8 out of 10

Of course he registered yet another pair of assists, even though the City midfield attempted to surround him from minute one to minute 90. His eye for a pass was yet again sublime as he offered further proof he could be relied on in the biggest games.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Walcott 7 out of 10

He’s not in the side to track back. Nor to add to the build-up. Or to press the opposition. Wenger picked him because given a half-chance he will probably hit the target, as he showed quite emphatically for the opening goal. What more could be asked of him?

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Giroud 7 out of 10

An exemplary display of what a target man should do in the modern age. He relished aerial battles with Mangala and Otamendi but brought his team-mates into the game equally well when he had the ball at his feet. Another goal capped off a fine display.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Hart 7 out of 10

Equipped himself rather well considering the porous nature of his backline, as time and again he was called upon to make close-range saves when his team-mates allowed opponents to burst through. Might have done better for the second goal though, when Giroud fired through his legs.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Sagna 5 out of 10

After so many years at the Emirates you might have thought Sagna would know not to allow Walcott to cut in on to his right, but that’s what he allowed him to do. Though Arsenal rarely attacked down the left when they did they got plenty of joy against a slow Sagna.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Otamendi 4 out of 10

He lacks for nothing except application, and it showed tonight as Giroud found that simply wanting the ball more than his disinterested opponent would ensure he won it. On one occasion he seemed to simply fall over rather than bother competing with Giroud.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Mangala 4 out of 10

At times this was a display of staggering incompetence from a player valued at over £30 million just a year ago. They’d do well to get a tenth of that after a display in which he gave the ball away in critical areas time and again, contributing decisively to Arsenal’s second.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Kolarov 6 out of 10

A decent display, at least compared to his team-mates. He bombed forward with purpose and did his best to repel the dangerous double-act of Bellerin and Campbell.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

De Bruyne 6 out of 10

A performance packed with bright moments but hardly game-changing ones, for instance when he burst through on Cech’s goal before dragging his shot wide when Silva was well-placed. An almost anti-Walcott display; lots of possession, minimal output.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Toure 5 out of 10

City’s engine room was running on fumes tonight. Though his running looked like that of an injured man he might then at least have focused his attentions on defence, but too often he allowed failed to keep up with Ozil. In many ways his goal only served to enhance the frustration he brought, why wait 80 minutes to do something so brilliant?

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Fernandinho 5 out of 10

On so many occasion he seemed to be caught out from behind by an Arsenal player challenging from the ball as he was one of several players to not show the required intensity for a top of the table match. He scarcely moved from the middle third of the pitch in attack or defence.

2015 Getty Images

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Delph 5 out of 10

No surprise whatsoever that he was hooked off at half-time. Pellegrini had said his role was to offer cover down the left, but he never tamed Bellerin’s forward runs and was muscled off the ball by Campbell.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Silva 5 out of 10

Not the only player to look lacking in match sharpness; even his famed passing was off the mark too often. Well-tracked by Flamini but he never forced the issue by dropping deep or moving wide.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Aguero 5 out of 10

Despite several days of first-team training he did not look remotely fit enough for this game and was overpowered and quite easily managed by Mertesacker and Koscielny, though in his defence his team-mates gave him little to work with.

2015 Getty Images

“I’m not going to get into any detail but I do believe he’s the right man. He has been the right man for so many years and I am listening to what people are saying. If the club is spending more money and they have the players they need, then perhaps Wenger is the perfect man. If you take him off and you bring someone else with the same structure, would he be better? Would he do better? I’m not sure. It’s not for me to say if it’s in the right hands or not but I do believe what he has done in the past is amazing.”

Clichy admitted that City players couldn’t help notice a more tense atmosphere at the Emirates.

Clichy in action for City on Sunday (Getty)

“It is always difficult when teams are in this kind of form. Most of the time you can hear what people are saying. They are looking for revenge: they want to show the fans, they want to show the manager… I think we did well. The atmosphere is what it is.

“Of course, I was here before. I really hope everything can be sorted but it is not only because of the atmosphere we felt we could have done better, it is because of the way it is when you play for a big club like City. You have to try to win and go for all the big points – home or away. We are more focused on how we had to play to get the points than thinking they are not in the best moment.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies