Name stadium after Wenger, says Pardew
NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew believes counterpart Arsene Wenger deserves to have Arsenal’s stadium named in his honour rather than be the target of abuse by a section of the club’s supporters.
A banner calling for Wenger’s resignation was unfurled during games against West Brom and Galatasaray while a group of fans harangued the 65-year-old Frenchman as he boarded the train to London following the Gunners’ defeat at Stoke last Saturday.
Pardew was the recipient of Newcastle fans’ ire earlier this season before a remarkable transformation of results elevated the Magpies to seventh in the Premier League, level on points with Arsenal who they face at Emirates Stadium tomorrow. “This is a guy that’s done unbelievably well and in some ways the stadium should be named after him,” said Pardew.
Wenger has a defensive crisis to contend with as Calum Chambers is suspended, Nacho Monreal out with a foot injury and Laurent Koscielny struggling with an achilles problem, potentially leaving Per Mertesacker as the only fit centre-half.
Newcastle have their own concerns and are set to start with third-choice keeper Jak Alnwick.