Young Gunners need refs’ protection, says Wenger
Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan was banned on Thursday for three games by the FA after being found guilty of violent conduct for punching Robin van Persie during his side’s Barclays Premiership victory over the Gunners on December 30 — an incident missed at the time by referee Lee Mason.
Wenger’s men were labelled ‘big babies’ by Blades midfielder Phil Jagielka and took criticism from some observers following another match in which they had apparently been out-muscled.
However, the Arsenal manager vehemently defended his side, whom he feels have been on the end of some unwarranted tactics which go outside the spirit of the game.
Wenger said: “I accept we have to be kicked because we have a young team. But to get out there and be kicked and punched, and in the end you still have to say ‘sorry we are not strong enough’, that is difficult to take.
“If it is a physical game, and they show more commitment and want it more than us, then it is okay.
“But I do not feel it is right to punch people in the stomach and after say ‘okay, they are babies crying’.
“I have no paranoia — football is football and there are some things you have to accept and some things you do not have to accept, whether you won or lost.
“I want my players to be respected, and when things go overboard I am not here to say, ‘yes, you are right, we lost 1-0 and I am a bad loser’.
“What happens sometimes is not right — the laws are there to protect the players.”
Wenger maintained it is the match officials who must ultimately protect the players.
He said: “I do not have any problems with the opposing managers — it is down to the referees. They set how far you can go in every game.
“I feel that Neil Warnock says to his team that they have to be committed — I find that right, but after that the referee has to set how far they can go.
“It’s about 100% commitment and that is one of the strengths of the English game.
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