Wenger & Arsenal 2-0 Mourinho

Mourinho’s moments of naivety could land him in trouble with Authorities again by The Analyser

Away from matters directly Arsenal let’s talk about a man who likes to drag Arsenal and Wenger into his travails. After getting into trouble with football authorities Mourinho decided to use Wenger’s remarks as his defence. He claimed that Wenger called Mike Dean naïve and weak. After failing to collect maximum points in a Champions League match on Tuesday, 20 October 2015, he claimed that the referee was naïve and weak for not awarding them a penalty. In the comments sections of the main online news outlets it is apparent that fans across the football divide are convinced that Wenger described Mike Dean as naïve and weak. But is that true?

The Daily Star of 19 September 2015 quoted Wenger as follows: “I would not like to be Mike Dean tonight, …Costa twice should be sent off. He hits him in the face in purpose. In every game he has aggravation and he gets away with it because of the weakness of the referee. We knew before the game he is only looking at that… Gabriel should not have responded at all but the two sending offs for us and Costa staying on the pitch is a shame.”

Wenger made those remarks at his post match press conference. In his comments he used the word “weakness”. When you look closely at how he used it, it becomes apparent that it was directed at referees in general not necessarily Mike Dean. Second, Wenger’s overall comments were directed at Diego Costa and the decision. This is standard practice one is not happy with a decision, especially in the legal field. You criticize the judgment not the judge otherwise you get charged for contempt of court. Wenger was smart here.

The Daily Mail of 19 September 2015 quoted Wenger as follows: “That is the least they can do. But he will do the same again next week and the week after and he always gets away with it.

“He can do what he wants and he stays on. Everyone else that responds to him has to be sent off. It’s unacceptable.

“If you look at the pictures and what he does to Koscielny before: he pushes him down and hits him in the face….He always gets away with it. Honestly, it is surprising. I don’t understand Mike Dean’s decision at all. Not on the sending off but why does Diego Costa stay on the pitch and Gabriel is sent off? I accept Gabriel shouldn’t react at all. But for me, he is always provoking and also uses the naivety of Mike Dean in this game.”

This comment largely dwelt on Diego Costa’s chronic misconducts which goes unpunished. In a way you would say Costa was the target of Wenger’s comments. In those comments he mentions Mike Dean’s naivety in passing. You could see that Wenger carefully chose his words to be critical of how referees were handling Costa, without violating any of the FA rules. It was on this basis that the FA could not charge Wenger of any wrong doing. Wenger being smart again.

The press interpreted Wenger’s comments to mean criticism of Mike Dean. Unfortunately the FA charges based on what was said not people’s interpretation of what was said. Mourinho in his moment of naivety and stupidity, decided to use Wenger’s two words to directly attack a referee. He was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: ‘The referee was weak and naive, it’s a big penalty,’ said Mourinho. ‘I keep not understanding, what the goal referee does. Because (he) doesn’t make a clear decision….When the result is 0-0 and such a penalty is not given it’s a crucial moment of the game….I actually think the referee was very good but I think he made one mistake.”

The first quote was an attempt to reduce Wenger’s comments into six words. Unfortunately that took away context and the general thrust of Wenger’s comments, making Mourinho’s comments totally different from what Wenger said. His was a direct attack on the referee, unless he can plead sarcasm. He goes on to contradict himself by saying the referee was very good. For me Mourinho’s comments could easily get him into trouble by any football authority, including the FA, without a case of double standards being made out. Wenger attacks a player, indirectly showing misgivings about referee(s) in a passive way. On the other hand, Mourinho directly attacks a referee. This makes the two cases easily distinguishable.

In conclusion therefore Mourinho might have landed himself in trouble again due to his moments of naivety, as you cannot exclude context and perspective when dealing with matters. So its Mourinho 0: 2 Wenger & Arsenal

By Tinashe Shamuyashe (The Analyzer)