Wenger defends Arsenal's 15-minute flight

LONDON (AFP) –

Arsenal‘s French manager Arsene Wenger attends training for the forthcoming UEFA Champions League group B football match against FC Schalke 04 at Arsenal’s training ground, London Colney, North London. Wenger has tried to defend Arsenal’s decision to charter a private jet to Norwich at the weekend, after the move was branded “absurd” by environmentalists.

Arsene Wenger has tried to defend Arsenal’s decision to charter a private jet to Norwich at the weekend, after the move was branded “absurd” by environmentalists.

Arsenal decided to fly from London to Norwich for their Premier League game at Carrow Road on Saturday because of disruption to rail services.

The short flight would have only lasted around 15 minutes, and it drew strong criticism from a local green campaigner.

“It is absolutely absurd,” wrote Jennifer Parkhouse, co-ordinator of the Norwich and Norfolk Friends, in a regional newspaper.

“I cannot see any reason why they would have flown, other than it being a rather ostentatious display of the players’ and the club’s wealth.

“If the flight took 14 minutes, they must have spent more time just getting on and off the plane than in the air.”

Wenger, though, said the travel disruption meant that taking a plane was Arsenal’s only option.

“Usually we take the train and there was no train available, so in the end we decided to fly because we had to drive up on Friday afternoon at the moment when you never know how long it lasts,” he said.

Arsenal lost the game 1-0.