Arsenal

Joey Barton: 'These are worrying times for Arsenal supporters'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 16 October 2017

Joey Barton: 'Worrying times for Arsenal'

Joey Barton compares Arsene Wenger to a late-night reveller who has had too many drinks, as he backs the Arsenal board to sack the long-serving boss.

Joey Barton has insisted that Arsenal supporters have every right to feel worried and believes that it is just a matter of time before under-fire boss Arsene Wenger is sacked.

The 67-year-old agreed another two-year contract extension in May, despite growing calls for him to leave during a campaign that ended with the Gunners lifting the FA Cup.

Arsenal have started the 2017-18 season just as slowly, though, finding themselves sixth in the Premier League table and already nine points adrift of Manchester City after eight games.

Barton believes that Arsenal chiefs will soon put Wenger out of his misery, offering a unique take on the situation at the Emirates Stadium by comparing the Frenchman to a late-night reveller.

"These are worrying times if you're an Arsenal fan, but if you're [Wenger] you think the next good team is just around the corner and he's building it," he told talkSPORT. "Whatever any of us thinks he's been a phenomenal manger in the Premier League.

"I think last year would have been a great time to step upstairs and let someone else come in. Does he need this? Every time they have a negative result he's getting battered from pillar to post. I'm a huge fan of what Wenger has done, but sometimes you can stay at a party too long.

"Sometimes it's nice to get off [home] at 12 o'clock, but it's now about 4am and he's staggering around absolutely bladdered waiting for someone to eject him - which is only going to be a matter of time, I think!"

Barton most recently represented Burnley in the Premier League but is currently without a club as he serves a 13-month ban for breaking rules concerning betting on matches.