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Aston Villa's O'Neill Gives Arsenal's Wenger Another Tongue-Lashing
Irishman gets it off his chest.
Jan 30, 2010 1:55:00 PM
By David Middleton
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill claims Arsene Wenger is getting “carried away with his own importance” as he launched another verbal tirade at the Arsenal chief.
Responding to comments made by the Frenchman that Villa were a “long-ball team”, following the two club's goalless draw at Villa Park in midweek, O'Neill has struggled to control his anger.
The Ulsterman, who has guided the west Midlands side to the League Cup final this season and to the fringes of the Champions League places, confronted Wenger after the game but is still venting his frustration at the snide remark.
He told the Sun: “[Arsene] Wenger has an opinion on everything. There is not a subject in this world at this minute – whether its political, religious, anything – that he does not have an opinion on.
“He does say things for effect. You can get carried away with your own importance, you really can, Sometimes he does.
“After what he said about my team on Wednesday, I did go looking for him. I told him what I thought about what he had said.
“He has made a great contribution to the game here [in England] but he is not on a different planet.
“What he wants to do is try and point out to everyone who is under his spell that Arsenal are the only delightful team around.”
Aston Villa are now unbeaten in seven games in all competitions after beating Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday, while Arsenal will be aiming to leapfrog Manchester United into second place in the Premier League when the two sides meet at the Emirates on Sunday.
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Responding to comments made by the Frenchman that Villa were a “long-ball team”, following the two club's goalless draw at Villa Park in midweek, O'Neill has struggled to control his anger.
The Ulsterman, who has guided the west Midlands side to the League Cup final this season and to the fringes of the Champions League places, confronted Wenger after the game but is still venting his frustration at the snide remark.
He told the Sun: “[Arsene] Wenger has an opinion on everything. There is not a subject in this world at this minute – whether its political, religious, anything – that he does not have an opinion on.
“He does say things for effect. You can get carried away with your own importance, you really can, Sometimes he does.
“After what he said about my team on Wednesday, I did go looking for him. I told him what I thought about what he had said.
“He has made a great contribution to the game here [in England] but he is not on a different planet.
“What he wants to do is try and point out to everyone who is under his spell that Arsenal are the only delightful team around.”
Aston Villa are now unbeaten in seven games in all competitions after beating Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday, while Arsenal will be aiming to leapfrog Manchester United into second place in the Premier League when the two sides meet at the Emirates on Sunday.
Talk all things soccer with the rest of our readers in the Goal.com Forums
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