Wenger keeps his counsel

Aston Villa 2 Arsenal 4

It was that kind of knowing smile, infused with heavy intent and determination to make the Portuguese eat his latest barbed words ridiculing the record of the Frenchman at Arsenal.

Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager, has been in sneering mood, scoffing at Wenger’s failure to win “even a little trophy” since 2005. His retaliatory invective was a knee-jerk response to Wenger raising concerns over Real’s lack of regard for the spirit of the game, following the red cards for Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos in the Champions League qualifying victory over Ajax last week.