Like it or not, you have to take Arsene’s comments in the context of how some teams have decided to play against us in the past, Bolton away in ’03 comes to mind as the first example of this style, and in the present. I suppose you can decide to ignore this, because if you did consider any view that was contrary to your own theory, that view would undermine the keystone of your argument.

Anyway, I don’t think the rough-housing started until we were 3-0 down; my own take on it was that it was a manifestation of the players’ petulant frustration at rolling over so easily and the lesson for us was don’t ship three goals in the first half if you don’t want to see players juggling balls (every pun intended).

I hardly think that violence formed part of the strategy to put you off your game – three goals in the first 45 certainly put us off our game in a match where we didn’t even turn up to. We deserved waht we got, just like when you boxed us 6-1 six years ago. You’d won the match even before we started the ‘kicking’. So much for your coup de grace remark.

Good luck for Saturday.

The article is about the hypocrisy of Arsene Wenger, the clue is in the title. Wenger’s hypocritical comments of the past week have nothing to do with what the Neville’s did to Reyes years ago.

Wenger retracted his comments on Taylor. I didn’t see him take back the thoughts that to beat Arsenal you have to kick them. I suppose it’s a compliment, because even when kicking United, Arsenal got batted 4-0 lol.

The notion you are trying to propoound, that AFC knocked seven bells out of Man U throughout the match isn’t accurate, barring Eboue’s ‘challenge’. I’m not condoning the conduct of our Captain and some of the other players, but the fouls were manifest when the game was foregone conclusion.

I recall Mauro Cameronesi kicking out at van Persie in our q/f with Juventus two years ago, that was a second yellow, and by that time Juevntus had shipped two goals away; a similar situation to Old Trafford two weeks ago.

Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not condoning what our players did, but I and lots of Gooners always find it difficult to accept subjective diatribes masquerading as reasoned argument. You tell me what was ‘fair’ about the Neville brothers’ treatment of Reyes that Sunday afternoon in Salford three and half years ago. I don’t recall your manager having too many complaints about the ‘spirit’ Man U played that game with, but I can tell you that the ‘spirit’ observed then, was pretty similar to ‘spirit’ Taylor observed when he chopped Eduardo, I think intentional, but ignorant of the potential consequences. You can’t label our manager a hypocrite without taking an honest look at what goes on in your yard.

I am merely highlighting the hypocricy of Wenger within a seven day period. His players kicked at United and fouled us over the park, and Wenger defended them, claiming they were “incensed and most rightly so.” A week later, one of his own players is on the receiving end of brutal play, and he claims the only way to stop Arsenal is to kick them and that player should be banned for life. It is hypocritical to defend your players for intentionally kicking others (as Eboue, Gallas, Flamini etc. did) and then 7 days later get on your high horse claiming everyone kicks Arsenal players. A rather simple argument yet for some reason is lost on most Arsenal fans here.

The author of this article has focused on Arsene’s comments in the aftermath of the match, but discreetly chosen to ignore the qualified reaction Arsene made later that weekend. So, AFC is now considered to have kicked your lot off the pitch at Old Trafford? It makes a change doesn’t it? Most Gooners will allow that if we didn’t want to be humiliated in the FA Cup then we should’ve focused on the game and not the CL match with Milan. Yes, Eboue deserved the red, but to try and hypothesise that Evra could have been hospitalised with ‘broken bones’ is pure hyperbole designed to propel your spurious notions. If you want to highlight against the consequences of brutal play, you should’ve highlighted that that City lad’s stamp on your no. 7. Try looking on You Tube for that clip of Reyes nutmegging Neville the Elder and getting chopped from the side for such creative impudence.

I don’t expect anything but bias on a Man U site – I mean, you even set your stall out by stating your dislike of AFC and its players – but perhaps you should have chosen a different title for this article because the final argument seems to focus on the wisdom of your manager in highlighting incompetent tackling.

I also think your central argument is ignorant and ill-thought out; so Arsene shouldn’t criticise the likes of Taylor et al because his players are the same? That’s like suggesting Fergie shouldn’t criticise diving because some of your players like the dying swan routine.

This is also an unfourtunate distraction from the Taylor incident which was a LUNGE (with both feet off the ground). Something both Arsenal and yes United players have done, as well as seen in most any EPL game these days it appears. The key difference in United and Arsenal from other teams tends to be that they aim the foot lower, rather than a high challenge. Eboue however has to be excluded from this as he appears to have scant regard for anyone.

This lower challenge (lunge) hower can lead to severe injuries to ankle and lower leg, and thankfully I see lesser of this happening from my team but I do fear for them in returm as it appears less of a priorty in the minds of other managers in the EPL to stamp out.

The case of Alex McLeish and Steve Bruce not admitting that this type of LUNGE (launching oneself) is not acceptable is disheartening. I fully back the words SAF spoke of following Reading (Dave Kitson on Evra) and Portmouth (Ronaldo, from front and back) that this must be dealt with more severely by law. Meaning there must be more than a three match ban (maybe 5-6) for violent/dangerous tackles to accompany the red card.

Taylor’s case will be dealt with existing law which is three match ban. You can’t call for more under existing laws, not unless you can prove malicious intent which no one can. Wenger was foolish to do so and soon realised his losing position in this. There is however something called MALICIOUS DISREGARD and there isn’t enough being done to address this. This is where Wenger should have directed his anger.

I will leave this here with some words SAF spoke of earlier (quoted in this article) that is relevant and forewarned what might happen.

“We’ve got to stop these kind of tackles because otherwise someone is going to be put out of the game,”

“The other issue is to ask whether a three-match ban is enough for these tackles? I’m wondering whether it should be more for dangerous tackles. For the sake of the game I’ve convinced myself that, even if it’s one of my players, he should get a red card. And if it’s wrong, a red card can be rescinded the next day.”

If I recall correctly, SAF said this in post match interview that this was his exchange with referee Rob Styles in the Bolton away game, on the whistle of half time. For getting into the referee’s face, he was sent to the stands for the remainder of the game and received a two match touchline ban soon after. I am sure he will be talking against this type of tackles this week.

You will note that since SAF words, in the holiday fixtures onwards there is more tendency of referees to caution or send off players making these sort of tackles. Now I think there will be even more impetus.

Arsene Wenger shouldn’t have said what he said and he has to an extent retracted his comments but we must understand the situation he was in. His player had just had his leg broken but a nasty challenge and he hadn’t been able to take another look at the incident. I don’t think we should hold too much against him because under those circumstances, few would have kept quiet about the incident. But he must take another look at Eboue’s tackle on Terry and I hope he has a word with his own players as well.
Again, I hope for a speedy recovery for Eduardo