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Arsene Wenger has slammed Russia coach Guus Hiddink after Andrey Arshavin was ruled out for two weeks with a groin problem. The 28-year-old aggravated the injury during last night's 3-1 win over Wales following Hiddink's decision to name him in the starting line-up despite the Gunners highlighting the situation prior to his call up for international duty.
Arshavin will miss Saturday's trip to Manchester City, next Wednesday's Champions League match at Standard Liege and the clash with Wigan at Emirates Stadium. Wenger said: "We lost Arshavin, who played with Russia last night and should not have played. He's out for Saturday, for Wednesday and certainly as well for Wigan.
"I took him out at Manchester United because of a groin problem. He did not play in Russia's first game [last Saturday against Liechtenstein] but played last night. He should not have played and is injured. You can say a lot about it but it does not do a lot. All the players are not back yet, so we have to wait a bit to see what damage has been done by the international games.”
The Gunners boss also believes the damage done to Eduardo's reputation in the wake of UEFA's decision to ban him for diving means he will now find it tougher to get penalties from referees.
The Croatia striker was felled by Glen Johnson in last night's 5-1 defeat by England without being awarded a spot-kick and Wenger believes it could be the first of many decisions to go against the 26-year-old.
He said: “Any situation you face as a top-level player you have to deal with and you can only do that by being mentally strong but this situation has been created by the media impact of his case.
“Now he is not going to be given penalties when they are penalties. The one last night against England was a penalty.
“You want everybody to be treated fairly and I do not believe he has been treated fairly. There was a good opportunity to have a media campaign against many players, not just Eduardo. He cannot have the feeling that he has been treated fairly.
“I do not believe it will affect his game. He is a player who has gone through much more difficult things than this when he broke his leg.”
Wenger will assess Cesc Fabregas's fitness later today when he returns from international duty with Spain but Theo Walcott remains absent with a back problem.
Reader views (11)
Steveo - Its hardly nonsense to expect international teams to pay the wages of players contracted to their clubs. In the modern football climate with players paid extortionate amounts it makes complete sense for international sides to pick up the wages of the players they select, for the duration of the period they have them.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 11/09/2009 12:34
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Wenger is soft and needs to put his foot down when needed.
Arshavin should have been warned that if he plays with his injury he will be disciplined and fined.
Arsenal should have refused to allow him to play because of injury.The club doctor should overrule any other doctor as long as an explanation is given.
FIFA and EUFA should take action on these things as it is happening quite often.
A.Messina
- A.Messina, Malta, 11/09/2009 11:42
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Rob the goner again spouting nonsense,so you want to be compensated for the ruskys injury,even though your club is superbly run financially and its great facilities, if he said he was fit then he was fit,its pretty much up to the player how he feels,and the coach or others have to take his word...crikey there would be masses of moneys changing hands if all clubs had too be compensated for injuries while playing for their country..
its a common tale now be it club v country or country v club..thats a fact and some players prefer one to the other.
- Steveo, hemel, 11/09/2009 11:41
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Arsenal should be reimbursed for Arshavin's wages whilst on international duty, as well as for the period he is injured. Its sheer lunacy to play an injured player, especially in a match Russia could easily have won without playing him.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 11/09/2009 09:10
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What do you expect from a possible future any English team Manager and an ex Chealsea manager and a known anti-Wenger person? Favours? Now then it would have been different if it was a Utd or Chealsy player.It would have been treated like royalty..Can you Imagine Ferdinand playing in the Croatian match. Ferguson would have gone ballistic.Who is playing on Saturday against Spurs? you guess it Rio Ferninand. So who has the power on International call ups? Fergusson. I rest my case...
- Doukani, herts, 10/09/2009 22:28
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Rob minus the gooner is back (I think!)
Wenger is a moany old git and has been for years...
So there....!
- Mark, St Albans, 10/09/2009 18:58
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Vox Pop & Chris H, seriously, take off the anti-Arsenal blinkers and see what's in front of your face. Wenger highlighted the fact that Arshavin was hampered by a groin injury and should not be selected to play. Lo and behold, when selected (to start, mind you), he aggravates the same injury and is lost to the club that pays his considerable wages for three weeks. You tell me if that makes any sense. At least some degree of common sense, courtesy and responsibility was taken by the Czechs with Tomas Rosicky in playing him for just under an hour, in line with a gentleman's agreement with Wenger.
In the case of Eduardo, who in their right mind can argue that he was clearly fouled by Johnson last night and was not given the penalty. As a "cheating foreigner" it is apparently reasonable to crucify him in the press while turning a blind eye to the likes of Wayne Rooney, who earned a penalty by diving and at the same time fouling and injuring the opposing centre back against Slovenia at the weekend.
Wenger has plenty of cause for complaint when his club's season is being adversely affected by stupidity on the one hand and xenophobia on the other.
- Speed Racer, Tokyo, Japan, 10/09/2009 17:29
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Chris H - in which case Rooney and Gerrard should be treated differently seeing they both dive? Or is it ok because they are English?
- Nick, London, 10/09/2009 17:20
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Vox Pop , he bellyaches so that idiots like you have got something to read and moan about.
- Rob, london, 10/09/2009 16:08
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If you do a blatant dive and CHEAT then yes Wneger you probably will be treated differently.
For a supposedly intelligent bloke this guy can be a real idiot sometimes.
- Chris H, City, 10/09/2009 15:53
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What's French for bellyaching .? This guy never stops ..it's called karma .
- Vox Pop, Edison usa, 10/09/2009 14:56
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