Wenger: Pires rested, not protected

ARSENE WENGER insisted Robert Pires is not being protected from a stormy reception at Fratton Park today even though the winger is being rested from Arsenal’s FA Cup quarter-final tie.

Pires courted controversy in the Premiership game against Portsmouth earlier this season when he went down easily after the faintest of contact from Dejan Stefanovic.

Wenger admitted it was not a penalty, even though Alan Wiley awarded a spot-kick, although he has again sought to defend Pires' reputation.

"I can agree it was not a penalty but he was touched and went down, although maybe in a bit of a theatrical way," he declared.

"Robert has had no problems since then. He's not a physical type of player and because of his past injury problems, he tries to escape quickly and go down. If he resists, then there's more chance of him getting injured."

Wenger still hit out at alleged instances of diving against Arsenal, citing Eidur Gudjohnsen and Ruud van Nistelrooy as having been guilty of such offences against the Gunners this season.

"Gudjohnsen pushed the ball ahead of him and wasn't touched, like nobody touched van Nistelrooy in the Charity Shield," he insisted.

"Robert was touched on his leg though. I never encourage my players to dive. Never. That's one of the differences in the English game and in foreign countries.

"In a foreign country, you might say that's well played. In England, to get someone booked and to dive is still a disgrace. And I think that's right."

Pires will nevertheless be spared from having to face any backlash from Portsmouth fans today, with Wenger set to rest him along with Dennis Bergkamp.

"Robert is the one outfield player, along with Kolo Toure, who's played most games this season," he confirmed.

"Frankly, I didn't consider the penalty at Highbury. I just considered he'd played so many games recently and had pushed himself so hard that I wanted him to have a breather.

"I do it as much as I can, but I only ever change two or three players at a time. He didn't ask for a rest, he loves to play."

While Pires and Bergkamp will be absent, Thierry Henry, whom Wenger has tried to rest in previous rounds, will start at Fratton Park.

"When you lose a game without one or your main players, you wonder whether you would have won with him," he admitted.

"But when he gets injured, people ask why you didn't rest him. The only thing that counts is to win the next game."

Pompey manager Harry Redknapp was at Highbury last Saturday - and admitted that he was "scared to death" by the first five minutes.

"Let's be fair, they are a terrific side. I think they could even win the Champions League this year and maybe the treble.

"They have great pace, great movement and, for me, the best player in the world in Thierry Henry. I would put them right up there with the great Liverpool and Leeds teams of a few years ago.

"Henry is scary especially when he drifts out on the left wing and goes on a run. My centre half is hoping he'll do that quite a lot, but my right back is not quite so keen on the idea."

Last season's top scorer Svetoslav Todorov is waiting to make his comeback from the substitutes' bench after seven months out following knee surgery.