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Arsene Wenger angry at Mark Hughes reaction
16 Sep 2009Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has criticised his Manchester City counterpart Mark Hughes for his response to Emmanuel Adebayor's stamp on Robin van Persie.
The Football Association have charged former Gunners striker Adebayor with violent conduct and City have until 6pm tonight to respond.
Match referee Mark Clattenburg has confirmed he would have sent the Togo star off for the challenge had he seen it clearly.
But Wenger has been surprised by Hughes' reaction to Adebayor's behaviour - with the Eastlands boss appealing for his summer signing to be "cut a bit of slack".
Recalling the challenge by Adebayor on Dutch star Van Persie, Wenger said: "I watched it when I got home and it looked very bad.
"You ask 100 people, 99 will say it's very bad and the hundredth will be Mark Hughes."
Adebayor is facing a three-match ban for violent conduct for the incident involving Van Persie, while he is likely to face an additional punishment for the celebration that followed his goal in City's 4-2 win, when he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in from of Arsenal's travelling fans.
Referring to Adebayor, Wenger explained: "I was surprised there was so much animosity in his attitude towards Arsenal. In a few years I think he will realise just how good Arsenal were for him.
"I played football and I know exactly, in a fraction of a second, when you know your body well, where you leave your foot in or you pull out.
"You know exactly at that fraction, you can injure somebody or you cannot injure somebody and you ease off or you leave your foot in."
Reader views (10)
what rot! any fair minded person would see that all arsenal players were out to get him so were the fans. van persie should have been sent off for his challenge anyway.
so the celebration was silly he apologised - did he never get up our noses?
did he kick dleiberately - look at his impetus after that dreadful tackle - it looked bad, but would he or anyone, other than Roy Keane really behave like that? what happened at the end of the game - they were in each others arms!!
this is wenger at his worst
- Fair Minded Arsenal Fan, Birmingham UK, 17/09/2009 00:19
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Hilarious all these posters posing as disinterested observers of the game. Of course you all want him banned, it's the only way you'll stop us. As for fans of other clubs outside the cartel giving us grief, carry on doffing your caps and scrambling for crumbs at your master's table. We are Manchester City, we bow to no-one.
- Alex Deane, Manchester, 16/09/2009 19:40
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Here we go, all the Gooners come crawling out of the woodwork shouting the odds about Mark Hughes. Let's get some perspective here - this is an article about Wenger's comments on Hughes and his shortconmings i. e, of 100 only Hughes will have seen it differently.
Wenger complains about Hughes yet a couple of weeks ago states he defends his players by using his selective myopia card even when he knows they've done wrong. He can't have it both ways. This is not a comment on Adebayor or Hughes but the towering hypocrisy of Wenger.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 16/09/2009 17:28
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Mark Hughes was a thuggish player, yet has impressed me immensely as a manager, firstly with the superb work with Wales, then at Blackburn. However, to condone Adebayor's appalling behavoir against Arsenal, has made him look a complete fool. Fortunatley, the FA have charged Adebayor & a minimum ban of 3 matches looks likely. A word of advice for Adebayor, the best form of revenge for being disposed of would be to beat Arsenal, score goals agaisnt them & qualify for the Champions League ahead of them. Keep quiet & enjoy it. Taking Henry as an excellent role model.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 16/09/2009 16:11
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Funny you say that, John.
The Sunderland, Chelsea, Fulham and Ipswich fans I work with (i.e. "fair minded") all seem to side with me on the issue of Citeh's thuggishness under Hughes, not you.
And as for me being "incorrect", I never said they didn't play good football, did I?
I'm just amazed how all City fans seem to think this player's actions are justified. Every single one of you on here has come out on the defensive.
How on earth is that "fair minded"? The player's conduct was absolutely disgraceful.
And I hate Arsenal. Trust me.
- Stu, Beckton, 16/09/2009 14:23
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Wenger and Brown (G) a team made in heaven for hypocracy and lies.
- Tonyjohnson, Hythe Kent, 16/09/2009 13:26
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Losing an eye would not necessarily be the end of RVP's career. He could replace Wenger as manager - he's always managed with just the one.
- Paul, London, 16/09/2009 11:18
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I vividly recall the thuggish teams that Wenger put out in past games at Old Trafford. Every one of those fixtures against ManUre was a war with numerous off the ball and over the ball scenarios. Wenger has a very short memory and his hypocracy is stunning. Your comment is also incorrect Stu. City play some superb football these days and any fair minded fan who has seen them will agree.
- John, Manchester, 16/09/2009 09:44
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Adebayor must be given a 10 MATCH BAN and I hope the FA see the danger of his actions.
a. he could have blinded Van Persie from one eye and that would have ended his football career.
b. His run to the Arsenal supporters is just as dangerous because he knew that the supporters don't like him for being lazy when with Arsenal and he used them to get to another club like Milan or Barca to earn more money.
Had he played with Arsenal the way he played last Saturday he would still be an Arsenal player.With Arsenal he never defended and when he lost the ball he never fought back to get it.
Let us not forget that Arsenal had a player suspended for 9 games for elbowing.
- A.Messina, Malta, 16/09/2009 09:39
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Whilst Wenger's hypocrisy at criticising other managers defending their players is staggering, I do remember saying as West Ham easily beat Citeh back at the start of this year, "Hughes is just building another Blackburn - a team of thugs with two vaguely talented forwards".
Obviously given the money he's got, you can now put the word "twenty" before "two", and replace "with" with "including".
- Stu, Beckton, 16/09/2009 08:41
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