Arsenal’s bad press unjustified, says Wenger

ARSENE WENGER admitted his concern about the potential impact of suspensions on Arsenal’s title challenge, but still launched yet another defence of his side’s much-criticised disciplinary record.

Wenger insisted that it was “unjustified” for Arsenal to be singled out for criticism despite their 52 red cards since he took charge at Highbury seven years ago. Indeed, the Arsenal boss claimed many of those dismissals had been due to provocation by opponents.

However, he is still facing up to the fall-out over his team’s loss of self-control at Old Trafford earlier this season, with five of his players now facing bans that total nine games between them.