STEVE BRUCE : ARSENE WENGER DESERVE SOME CREDIT

Steve Bruce admitted he was 'baffled' by question marks over Arsene Wenger’s future
and claimed the signing of Mesut Ozil was a statement Arsenal are ready to reassert
themselves at the top.

Germany playmaker Ozil has struggled for form and fitness since signing from Real
Madrid for £42.5million last summer, but is set to return from a hamstring injury against
Hull City at the KC Stadium on Sunday.
But Hull boss Bruce has backed the attacking midfielder to prove his worth and is
convinced Arsenal’s board will make it a priority to secure Wenger’s future beyond the
end of this season.
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‘It was great to see them signing someone like Ozil,’ he said. ‘Looking from afar, it
seems they spent eight or nine years funding the new stadium and were not able to
compete at the top level in the transfer market.
‘But paying all that money for Ozil was a statement that they are now ready to challenge
the biggest clubs in Europe for any outstanding talent that becomes available. It sends
out a real message, because he is a terrific player, a real danger to any team he comes
up against. In fact, I just hope he is on the bench for a long, long time on Sunday.
‘He’s not the only one who has had injury problems this season. Arsenal have been
without some top players, like Ozil, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and jack Wilshere, but
they are still on course for another top-four finish.
'Arsene hasn’t spent on anything like the same scale as some of the big clubs, yet
Arsenal are always competing in semi-finals and even finals in the Champions’ League,
as well as for honours on the domestic front. How people can question him, when you
look at his record, baffles me.
'The guy has done an amazing job in 17 years at Highbury and The Emirates. Sixteen of
those have ended with a top-four finish, and that is remarkable. I’ve huge respect for
him, and I imagine those who employ him will be doing everything in their power to keep
him at the club, because they know the tremendous job he’s done.
'He has been a problem for English managers and coaches, because he was the first
foreign one to come in and make his mark, and other clubs have looked at that and
decided to go down the same route. They think they’ll find another Arsene Wenger, but
there aren’t many like him.
'He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he has proved to be one of the greats. He
deserves everyone’s respect for what he has achieved, and I’m sure he has not finished
yet.’