ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has accused Manchester United of adopting "anti-football" tactics after a fiery meeting between the Barclays Premier League title hopefuls.

United were 2-1 winners over the Gunners on Saturday, coming from behind after Andrei Arshavin had given the visitors the lead.

Arsenal were arguably the better team but were responsible for their own downfall when Manuel Almunia tripped Wayne Rooney to concede a penalty before Abou Diaby inexplicably headed into his own net.

Wenger was then sent to the stands for kicking a water bottle after Robin van Persie's late strike was disallowed for offside.

That capped a week of perceived injustice for Wenger after Eduardo was charged by UEFA over his alleged dive to win a penalty in the Champions League win over Celtic.

The Frenchman, though, compared Eduardo's behaviour favourably with the tough-tackling of United at Old Trafford.

"I have seen a player who plays on the pitch only to make fouls," he said. "For me, this is a point that is more urgent than diving.

"The players who are never punished, who get out of the game without a yellow card. I think it is more anti-football than a player who did what Eduardo did.

"Look at how many deliberate fouls some players get away with. That's a bigger problem because it cuts the flow of the game. And people pay to see football, not free-kicks."

Wenger, meanwhile, is set to receive an apology today from the Premier Game Match Officials Board for his sending-off, which League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan described as "completely out of context".

I can't understand the term ' anti-football', anyone care to explain in a few words please?

Complain people pay to see football, not free kick. If Eduardo don't get away with a yellow card, a free kick will be awarded what. Smlj?

To be anti-something, you would have to oppose it and probably break it's rules. Diving is against the rules isn't it? And an obvious one at that.

Originally posted by sand king:

I can't understand the term ' anti-football', anyone care to explain in a few words please?

anti-football is more or less not playing football.

as in more fouls, etc..

some1 pls correct me if i'm wrong.

Let's face it, Wenger don't have a player to break up play at this moment... And the way Arsenal lost, I feel Wenger is only trying to deflect attention on how his team collapsed despite taking the lead... The way they fell apart has to be look into more seriously... Despite their great start to the season, and taking the lead in the first half at OT, his players seems to fall apart when put under some pressure... They still don't have an able defensive midfielder to keep it together, and the fitness of some of their players especially Arshavin who was so obvious he was empty and couldn't run anymore has to be worrying...

Wenger is well known to deflect attention away from his own team but if I was an Arsenal fan, I would be a little worried with the lack of depth in the squad. Cos despite they played well in the first half, Arshavin was the only one that was threatening... And taking the lead was probably not a good thing for them either as they became more nervous trying to protect it...

Wenger never fails to crack me up.

Originally posted by zocoss:

Let's face it, Wenger don't have a player to break up play at this moment... And the way Arsenal lost, I feel Wenger is only trying to deflect attention on how his team collapsed despite taking the lead... The way they fell apart has to be look into more seriously... Despite their great start to the season, and taking the lead in the first half at OT, his players seems to fall apart when put under some pressure... They still don't have an able defensive midfielder to keep it together, and the fitness of some of their players especially Arshavin who was so obvious he was empty and couldn't run anymore has to be worrying...

Wenger is well known to deflect attention away from his own team but if I was an Arsenal fan, I would be a little worried with the lack of depth in the squad. Cos despite they played well in the first half, Arshavin was the only one that was threatening... And taking the lead was probably not a good thing for them either as they became more nervous trying to protect it...

well, as per heard on football focus, it is wenger's mistake.

He has been in EPL for 13 years, and during that time, Gunners also have their fair share of red cards notably by Vieira. They did have their "enforcers" too in Flamini and Vieira. So to claim MU is anti-football is a joke.

Plus the fact, he is an idealist, and he wants football to be played a certain way, and when MU steps on their necks, their players 'fed' with his idealist ideas are 'caught in the headlights'.Hence the rumours of getting Vieira back.

Anyway, it is quite cunning for him to try to deflect attention from his team on the dive charges with these BS.

Unfortunaely, UEFA chose to act now, and the spotlight is his team, so bobian lor.

Well, at least Eboue got away with it trying to get Evra send-off... As not many are talking about it now... But I have seen many gunners fans also don't lik him cos he give them a bad image apart from not being a great help to the team... 

In soccer, everyone is a hypocrite.

Originally posted by sand king:

In soccer, everyone is a hypocrite.

well, everyone wants to win... and get the most $$$..

Originally posted by iceFatboy:

well, everyone wants to win... and get the most $$$..

I mean, if we lose to Arsenal the same way they lost to us, we would be kpkb-ing. So let them be, for we will get our turn.

Originally posted by sand king:

I mean, if we lose to Arsenal the same way they lost to us, we would be kpkb-ing. So let them be, for we will get our turn.

true la, so from starting, I said Gunners were the better team and deserved something, MU was lucky.