Wegner calls for keeper protection

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called for goalkeepers to be given more protection so as to avoid a repeat of the horrendous injuries suffered by Petr Cech.

The Chelsea number one is likely to miss the rest of the season after needing surgery on a fractured skull when he was caught in the face by the knee of Reading striker Stephen Hunt.

Blues stand-in keeper Carlo Cudicini was also carried off later in the same match after he had been knocked unconscious following an aerial challenge by defender Ibrahima Sonko. He too is set for a spell on the sidelines, and is unlikely to face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was incensed by the incidents, describing Hunt’s challenge as “very stupid”.

Wenger can empathise with the Portuguese coach, but admitted only the striker can really know whether there had been any malice.

“I can understand he is upset, and also worried,” said Wenger.

“This year there have been four incidents – Shay Given, Mark Schwarzer who damaged his cheekbone, then you have Cech and Cudicini.

“It cannot be co-incidence that suddenly in three months you have four.”

Wenger reflected: “Frankly, on the first challenge [Cech], only the player knows. It is difficult to make your mind up – but it does not look like he went in to try and ’do him.’

“I hope it was an accident, but only the player knows really. I cannot imagine a player will go in to try and hit another player on the head with his knee because you know you can kill the player.

“The player has no history of doing that before so, frankly, I will give him the benefit of the doubt and think it is an accident. Has Hunt done that on purpose? I refuse to believe that because then it is criminal.”

Wenger feels both the footballing authorities and the players themselves need to bring about a change in approach.

He said: “There is nothing to stop players from hitting the keeper – a striker can go in with the shoulder or anything and you have to be conscious that it is dangerous.

“We have all played football, we have all been in situations where you know you will hit the keeper – but you can still decide: ’do I leave my foot in?’ or ’do I try to make it light?’

“You have to make that choice when the keeper is coming out with his head.”

Wenger believes Arsenal goalie Jens Lehmann has often been singled out for some rough treatment in his own penalty box.

“In some games, Jens has been targeted and it is clearly been a game plan to get at Jens. That is not acceptable,” the Arsenal manager said.

“That has been done in plenty of games, everyone can see that. We have to fight that as managers because you cannot accept it. It is just not good enough.”

Wenger, however, accepted: “There is always a fine line between commitment and the guy going in fair on the keeper because that is one of the beauties of English football.

“But players know when to stop and where it becomes dangerous. Risk is part of our job and you do not want it where no-one can teach other - but you have to trust that it is in a fair way.”

Wenger continued: “I think Jens gets upset quickly when a challenge is not fair, so some opponents challenge him and he loses his way.

“It took him some time to control himself when he faced unfair challenges.

“However, we accept that physical challenge is part of the beauty [of the English game] – but we have to make sure that the challenge is fair.

“We also have to make sure that referees have enough in their locker to deal with the incidents.”

Wenger, however, does not want to see the style of the domestic game altered, just ensuring the approach to challenges on the keepers are always in the spirit of the sport.

The Arsenal boss took his squad to Moscow ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League match.

He told reporters at Luton Airport: “There are fantastic scenes in England where you see the guy jumping over the keeper and taking the ball with his head. I respect the striker who does that.

“But you do have to protect them [goalkeepers].

“At the moment, it is not always done.”