Arsene Wenger insists that successive FA Cup wins prove Arsenal's mental strength

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists that his side has the mental strength to challenge for major titles this season, evidenced by successive FA Cup wins over the last two years. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville had stuck the boot into Wenger for his alleged inability to challenge for major honours and stated that the Gunners do not have the grit and determination to make it at the top.

"Opinions for me have to be documented," Wenger told beIN Sports, as quoted by the Mirror. We won the cup last year. You don't win the (FA) cup unless you are mentally strong, believe me. That's why I don't agree with that."

Arsenal started the season slowly, losing their first game at home against West Ham United, but have managed to come back strongly, taking seven points from a possible nine in their next three, which included a goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates. A major issue has been their inability to score goals at home, having drawn a blank in five of their last six games since last season, something which Wenger is looking to rectify come the end of the international break.

The manager was also heavily critical of pundits who, in his opinion, do not have responsibility attached to what they say as their voices are not questioned six months down the line when they are proved wrong.

"You have to respect everybody's opinion. Pundits are just people who are filmed by a camera and give their opinion and you have to accept that but if a pundit gives an opinion and is not right in six months, nobody will come back and say: 'well, why did you say that six months ago? You were completely wrong,'" Wenger added.

"It's just an assessment and an opinion you have to respect. The modern world, people are informed. People are informed and have opinions but at the end of the day someone had to make decisions.

"People who make decisions have to be responsible and stand up for their decisions and that's not exactly the same for the opinion. That's part of our job, to be confronted with different opinions and to accept that sometimes people are wrong and sometimes people are right. That's part of it. I disagree of course."