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Arsene Wenger: International football must change

Arsene Wenger believes major changes are required in international football for fans to want to watch their countries again.

Arsene Wenger has said that international football needs to change in order to keep supporters involved.

The Arsenal boss feels that with the current economic climate and a lull in the quality fans will not want to support their nation.

"The lack of quality in some games has been wiped out by the national pride of people supporting their countries. But in the longer run, that doesn't work," the Frenchman told Official Arsenal Magazine.

"People want quality, and we saw some games in the last round of internationals - Bulgaria v Wales for example - there were just 1,000 people there, that makes a mockery of international football.

"I think it will get worse and worse because we are facing an economic crisis too. That will have direct consequences for the attendances. It's more and more difficult to sell out games - even in a big country like France. Not one home game there was a sell-out. Not one."

Wenger's Gunners are on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning six of those, and the Frenchman is hoping that no players return to the Emirates injured.

"It is certainly not a joy for me but hopefully it is not a pain because I hope the players will come back in good spirits," he added.

"But it could be a pain if we lose some players through injury."

Arsenal next face a trip to Carrow Road in the Premier League to take on Norwich on Saturday, November 19.

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Pascal Lemesre
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