Arsenal 4-0 Wigan - Arsenal caught up in another 'cheat' row
-
CHEAT ROW ... Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue was booked for this deliberate handball against Wigan
ARSENE WENGER has jumped to the defence of Emmanuel Eboue after another cheating row erupted following Arsenal's win over Wigan. Eboue was booked for deliberate handball when he got on the end of a cross midway through the first half in the 4-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, which comes hot on the heels of the Eduardo diving saga from a few weeks ago.
Wenger said: "Of course we want to stamp out cheating in the game. It is not necessarily cheating sometimes, it [handball] can be a reflex as well.
"I do not encourage cheating and we all have to fight against it, but in this particular situation it can be a reflex as well.
"When the player goes down sometimes it is not always because he wants to cheat. "It can be a foul and he makes a bit more of it, but the personality I feel in England that the personality of the player who does it is more important than the importance of the foul and the cheating.
"I mean some players get away with things and other don't." This was a symbolic match for Eboue as he was jeered by his own supporters in the fixture last season.
On this occasion he was cheered off when substituted in the 73rd minute, confirming his cult-hero status. It was a typical performance from the Ivory Coast international as he was productive — he deflected Eduardo's shot in for the third goal — but raised eyebrows with his celebrations.
Wenger, when asked about the turnaround in the fans' view of Eboue, added: "I believe Eboue did what you have to do in our job, which is to shut up, play and let everyone else talk while he produces quality performances.
"His is a job for strong people, and you can respond mentally. The supporters are behind him again as he plays well and he plays with the right spirit. "He is sensitive and a bit and an extrovert, but he's a creative player."
Thomas Vermaelen scored the first two goals — a header from a corner and a delightful curling effort. He now has four goals since arriving from Ajax.
And Wenger joked: "Let's be honest for once. I thought he could adapt quickly but maybe not as quickly as that!"
Cesc Fabregas wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time. Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was furious with his side's display. He stormed: "We were very poor in our performance. "That was not our style at all. We did not get anywhere near the Arsenal players in the first half.
"Our starting position was wrong and there was a lack of belief. We are not normally a defensive side, but we had a slow start and that was the reason for our performance.
"I cannot not take any positives from the performance — or the lack of it."
-
Did Eboue score with the Hand of God?
-
Originally posted by zocoss:
CHEAT ROW ... Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue was booked for this deliberate handball against Wigan
This is fugging hilarious! The picture! hahahaha!