Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes his former captain Tony Adams was sacked too quickly by Portsmouth. The Frenchman has backed Adams - who won the league title with the Gunners four times, twice under Wenger - to return stronger from the experience.

"I believe that Tony will be a very good manager and I don't believe he was given the needed time," Wenger told the club's official website.

"It is a big surprise that so quickly they made a big decision because when they made the decision to give him the job they knew he has worked there for a year-and-a half and they knew him.

"When you give a young manager that much responsibility you have to give him time."