Former chairman Peter Hill-Wood blasts ‘ignorant’ Arsenal fans

Hill-Wood was the man to appoint Wenger 18 years ago and has stoutly defended the Arsenal boss following recent criticism of the Frenchman.

Having endured their worst start to a league season for 32 years in which the Gunners accrued just 17 points from their opening 12 games, sections of Arsenal fans have called for the boss to be relieved of his duties.

Travelling fans, who made the venture to the Hawthorns at the weekend to see Arsenal beat West Brom 1-0, displayed a banner demanding that Wenger quit the club.

However Hill-Wood, who was Arsenal chairman for 31 years, has blasted those fans.

"Thoroughly ignorant people seem to have a say nowadays," he said.

"It is a few hotheads jumping up and down thinking they are being clever."

"It is the most ridiculous way to behave really because normal people are forever saying boards act too hastily when they get rid of a manager," he continued.

"Here we have a really good one with the team sixth in the league and into the last 16 of the Champions League for the 15th consecutive season.

"Arsene would be entitled to ask them, 'what the hell do you want?'

"Frankly, I don't think the club will be paying any attention to them at all.

"I don't take too much notice of it and it isn't going to influence the board, I am sure of that."