Wenger – Arsenal are not angels, but commitment doesn’t break legs!
The Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger was extremely upset about Aaron Ramsey’s broken leg against Stoke last week, and although he loves the commitment that English players show in the Premier League, he doesn’t think that that should translate into broken legs for the opposition.
After the game, in the heat of the moment, Wenger said: “None of my players have broken anyone’s leg,”
“I try to coach my players to be committed, sometimes I feel nearly guilty to do that because when Aaron went for the ball like he did and that happens it is not an easy situation.
“The way I try to play the game is I believe the right way. I still prefer to continue to play like that. We respect the game and our opponents and try to give pleasure to people who watch us.”
Today, Wenger refused to withdraw those words, and said that he knew that Stoke would be playing hard before the game even started: “I stand by what I said 100 percent,” he said. “I knew exactly what would happen the whole week, that was quite easy to predict but I don’t know what is to be added to that.
“It is important to focus on the future, help Aaron Ramsey and let people talk. We don’t want to come back too much on headlines that will create controversy. It doesn’t help Aaron, it doesn’t help football and we don’t go any further any more.
“I lived for 20 years abroad and I know what it means. I am not always 100 per cent right but I am entitled to have my opinion no matter where I work.
“I love the commitment of the English game. I don’t want to change that and it makes the game even more attractive. I am 100 percent behind the commitment. But high commitment demands fair intention as well.”
Wenger also admitted that the Arsenal team are not totally innocent, but he wishes that all the teams in the Premiership played committed football, but still respected their opponents.
He said: “It is not Arsenal against the rest of the world,” he said. “What I say here is valid for the Arsenal players as well.
“I want the Arsenal players to go into the tackles like everybody else. To go into the tackles and be committed.
“What I say is not just for Stoke or Arsenal players, it is for everybody. I defend football.
“It is not that we are apart from anybody else. We are the same. I am continuing to defend the values that I believe are important for our club and football. That doesn’t mean we are angels and everyone else is the devil. It is for everybody.”
Well you can’t really argue with any of that, can you?
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update:: Wenger – Arsenal are not angels, but commitment doesn't break legs! http://bit.ly/cfOd3O