Former Arsenal Player Nigel Winterburn Defends Arsene Wenger Actions

Nigel Winterburn has leapt to the defence of Arsene Wenger, amid accusations that the player's former manager - according to Manchester City boss Mark Hughes - lacked grace in defeat following Wednesday evening's 3-0 loss.

"I don't think he lacks grace," he told Sky Sports News, before commenting on the importance of retaining cordiality. "I think it is more important to shake hands when you lose - if you only do it when you win then it looks like you are gloating a little bit.

"But you can look at incidents through all managers and see where they have done things wrong. I have done things in my career that I wished I hadn't and regretted it but you live with it."

He continued: "I would like to see him shake the hand of Hughes after the game. But what you have to look at is whether Wenger thought that he was being disrespectful and decided he was not going to bother.

"Or maybe it was sheer frustration and at the end of the game he was so disappointed in his team that he just walked straight down the tunnel.

"Hughes and Wenger have got a little bit of history going back to Blackburn. Wenger will say that if I am not happy with what he is doing to me then I am certainly not going to shake his hand at the end of it. There is no written code or law to say that you have to do it, is there?

"Wenger may not admit it, but when he looks back he may think maybe to defuse the whole situation I should have shaken Mark Hughes' hand. But he hasn't and it gives us something to talk about."

Alan Dawson, Goal.com UK