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Arsene Wenger reflects on increasing security measures around teams

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says there has been a radical difference in the level of secur...



Arsene Wenger reflects on incr...
Soccer

Arsene Wenger reflects on increasing security measures around teams

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says there has been a radical difference in the level of security around the team compared to when he first took over 21 years ago.

Protection for football players in general is likely to be increased, following an attack on Borussia Dortmund's team bus this week.

Three explosions went off near it, with Dortmund defender Marc Bartra suffering arm injuries that required surgery. He will resume playing in about a month according to his club.

Wenger says sport has become as much a target for terrorist attacks as many other pillars of modern society.

"[Today], you cannot speak to a fan without having a bodyguard around you. You cannot go to your room anymore without having security in the hotels," he said.

"And I find that a very sad side of the development of our society, but on the other hand it just reflects what our society is about today. There is insecurity there, and it’s just in sport like in any other part of society."

Wenger also addressed the rumours that Arsenal will appoint a director of football to take on some of his first team duties.

Former Arsenal winger, Marc Overmars, who was signed by Wenger in 1997 ahead of his first double winning season, was tight lipped on the issue.

"I like Marc Overmars but he's director of football at Ajax," said Wenger.

"I'm sure there's plenty of candidates to take care of Arsenal Football Club. I am not worried about that."

Speaking on Newstalk on Thursday, former Leeds and Ireland legend John Giles shared his view that appointing a director of football would not be a good idea for Arsenal unless it was a figure chosen by and trusted by Wenger: "I've no problem with directors of football if it's the manager's director of football and he works for the manager."  

 

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