Wenger on defensive for substituting ‘kid’
Van Persie was filmed shouting “no” when his teammate was replaced by Andrey Arshavin three minutes after setting up Arsenal‘s equaliser at the Emirates Stadium.
Home supporters were also upset and their anger increased when Arshavin appeared to be at fault for Danny Welbeck’s winner as he allowed Antonio Valencia to cut inside and set up the strike.
“Arshavin is captain of the Russia national team,” Wenger said. “You have to justify he substitutes an18-year-old kid who’s playing his second or third game? Let’s be serious.
“I can understand that the fans are upset about the substitution, especially when it doesn’t work. That means first I made the right decision at the start of the game.
“He had started to fatigue and started to stretch his calf. He was sick during the week.”
United stayed within three points of leaders Manchester City through Welbeck’s winner, after van Persie had cancelled out Antonio Valencia’s opener.
Alex Ferguson lost England international Phil Jones to an ankle injury early in the match and brought on youngster Rafael da Silva, but he took his substitute off again in the second half.
Rafael was upset and appeared to decline the offer of a handshake from Ferguson, but the tactical move paid off as Valencia dropped to right-back and then set up the winner.
Victory came a few hours after City’s dramatic victory against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.
“Winning after City had won their game, that was the important thing,” Ferguson said. “But we did it in the right way, we played football and were adventurous and had belief in ourselves.”
Patrice Evra, United’s captain for the day, felt it was an important win in the title race.
The Frenchman said: “The league is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. We’re still behind City, but we have to keep going and winning games.
“I’m really confident with the team. When we play with the United spirit, it’s really difficult to beat us.”
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