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Cesc's Spat With Hull Assistant Is News To Wenger
The French boss spoke of his surprise to learn that his captain has been accused of spitting at Brian Horton following the Gunners' progression to the FA Cup semi-final.
Mar 17, 2009 6:17:28 PM
Arsenal's 2-1 win over Hull City this evening that secured an all-London Wembley against Chelsea in the semi-final of the FA Cup was clouded by a series of both on-pitch, and off-field incidents.
There was a level of disagreement over Arsenal's eventual winner, as defender William Gallas appeared offside as he nodded the ball into the net.
Then, after the game, Cesc Fabregas walked onto the field in order to congratulate his team on their win, but was later accused by Phil Brown to have spat on his assistant manager Brian Horton.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger revealed his surprise at the news in his post-match comments, and declared that Gallas' goal was fair.
Regarding the unsavory spitting allegations leveled at his club captain Fabregas, Wenger said, "This is completely new to me. I do not know about that at all. I was quite relaxed about tonight going into the game. I do not know what to tell you."
When pressed for his reasoning as to why he refused to shake hands with Brown, Wenger defended, "I thought we were here to speak about football. I waited [to shake hands] but nobody was there, so I went to the dressing room instead."
On the actual performance, the Frenchman had nothing but praise for his side.
"We played with a lot of commitment and a lot of character and great quality. It was a well-deserved victory from a very committed game played at a frenetic pace. At the moment I believe the belief and strength is in the squad.
"I knew that my team would not give up," he added.
Crowd jeers and audible booing ensued from early in the first half, as Hull glovesman Boaz Myhill continued to take his time over the free-kicks in a perceived attempt at sucking the life and pace out of the game.
"From the first minute on they - their goalkeeper especially - tried to, of course, slow the game down but they are not the only team who does that here!"
Wenger continued by talking about Gallas' controversial goal.
"There is a foul on Gallas as well and he is not offside when the ball is played. For me it is a goal, their goalkeeper deflected the ball, so there is no offside.
"This is a great opportunity to go to where we want to go, [and that is to] the final," he concluded.
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
There was a level of disagreement over Arsenal's eventual winner, as defender William Gallas appeared offside as he nodded the ball into the net.
Then, after the game, Cesc Fabregas walked onto the field in order to congratulate his team on their win, but was later accused by Phil Brown to have spat on his assistant manager Brian Horton.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger revealed his surprise at the news in his post-match comments, and declared that Gallas' goal was fair.
Regarding the unsavory spitting allegations leveled at his club captain Fabregas, Wenger said, "This is completely new to me. I do not know about that at all. I was quite relaxed about tonight going into the game. I do not know what to tell you."
When pressed for his reasoning as to why he refused to shake hands with Brown, Wenger defended, "I thought we were here to speak about football. I waited [to shake hands] but nobody was there, so I went to the dressing room instead."
On the actual performance, the Frenchman had nothing but praise for his side.
"We played with a lot of commitment and a lot of character and great quality. It was a well-deserved victory from a very committed game played at a frenetic pace. At the moment I believe the belief and strength is in the squad.
"I knew that my team would not give up," he added.
Crowd jeers and audible booing ensued from early in the first half, as Hull glovesman Boaz Myhill continued to take his time over the free-kicks in a perceived attempt at sucking the life and pace out of the game.
"From the first minute on they - their goalkeeper especially - tried to, of course, slow the game down but they are not the only team who does that here!"
Wenger continued by talking about Gallas' controversial goal.
"There is a foul on Gallas as well and he is not offside when the ball is played. For me it is a goal, their goalkeeper deflected the ball, so there is no offside.
"This is a great opportunity to go to where we want to go, [and that is to] the final," he concluded.
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
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