Wenger: Referee must not let Rovers clash turn into ‘rugby’

ARSENE WENGER is fully prepared for Arsenal to face another physical test at Blackburn tomorrow – but maintains it is responsibility of the referee to stop the match descending into “rugby”.

The Gunners – who have completed the signing of experienced French defender Sebastien Squillaci from Sevilla – lost 2-1 at Ewood Park last May.

Afterwards Wenger berated Rovers for showing “no purpose to play the ball” as they blocked keeper Lukasz Fabianski at every opportunity, and also blamed referee Martin Atkinson for not providing his team with more protection.