Arsene Wenger was forced to defend Spain international Cesc Fabregas after another night of controversy created by Arsenal indiscipline in a 2-0 win over Wolves.
Arsene Wenger was forced to defend Spain international Cesc Fabregas after another night of controversy created by Arsenal indiscipline in a 2-0 win over Wolves.
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Arsenal manager Wenger launched an impassioned defence of Fabregas following a crude lunge on Stephen Ward late on which left the Wolves defender needing to be stretchered from the field.
Farbregas later left the field to catcalls from furious Wolves fans, and a bottle was thrown as he departed for the dressing room after the match.
Wenger was once again forced to defend his players against accusations of indiscipline, just weeks after complaining about mistimed tackling in the Premier League.
"I have always said I am for tackling and I like the physical game and I like the commitment of the physical game in England but it's down to the referees to make the rules respected," Wenger said. "From that, I read I was against the tackling and that's not true.
"I think it was an accidental tackle, that's what Cesc told me. He touched him of course but he wanted to play the ball. He went to the dressing room and apologised to the player and he is alright.
"I have not seen the tackle yet but I have just apologised to (Wolves manager Mick) McCarthy if the player is injured because I didn't know exactly what had happened because the linesman was in my view.
"For a red card you need it be violent, on purpose and a reckless challenge."
Wolves boss McCarthy later played down the flashpoint.
"It's just one of those mistimed tackles. It's caught Ward, he's got a nasty cut -- but he's apologised and I ain't got no problem about it at all," McCarthy told Sky Sports.
Arsenal's victory ensured they remain five points behind league leaders Chelsea, and though it was two goals from Marouane Chamakh -- the first of which came after just 37 seconds -- that clinched the victory, it was Poland international Lukasz Fabianski who was their most impressive performer.
Fabianski has been much maligned after a string of high-profile mistakes, including a costly error in the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday, but he produced a number of stunning saves to help Arsenal secure a crucial win.
"I think Fab did extremely well, he made a fantastic save in the last minute," Wenger said. "He was of course disappointed with the goal we conceded against Newcastle and overall it's good not only that he had a great game tonight because I know he's a great keeper but also that he has the mental strength to respond quickly in a very positive way."
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy remains in the bottom three but can at least breathe a sigh of relief after a sequence of unforgiving fixtures.
This game was preceded by a trip to Chelsea, two games against Manchester United and a home clash with Manchester City. They now face Bolton at Molineux this weekend.
"It's another case of "well played but you got nothing". We've also played well against Arsenal and got nothing again," he said.
"We've got three points from these games and played well, when everyone thought we'd get slapped a few times as well.
"We've now got games against the likes of Bolton, Blackpool, Sunderland and Birmingham - and we've got to try and play as well in those."
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