Liverpool FC Forum

by **L-type** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:06 pm

Furious Arsene Wenger launched a bitter attack on Wayne Rooney, referee Mike Riley and Manchester United's rough-house tactics after Arsenal had surrendered their 49-game unbeaten record at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Arsene Wenger has words with Mike Riley (NealSimpson/Empics)

The Gunners boss was already seething at Riley for failing to dismiss man of the match Rio Ferdinand for a foul on Freddie Ljungberg during the first half of the Red Devils' 2-0 win, then for failing to spot Ruud van Nistelrooy's apparent stamp on Ashley Cole and finally for not clamping down on a succession of fouls on Jose Reyes.

But what really tipped Wenger over the edge was Riley's decision to award a penalty for Sol Campbell's tackle on Wayne Rooney 18 minutes from time when there appeared to be minimal contact between the England pair.

Wenger just stopped short of directly accusing Rooney of being a cheat but claimed the youngster, who celebrated his 19th birthday by tapping home an injury-time second, had told the Arsenal team Campbell had not touched him.

'Rooney told my players he had not been touched,' fumed Wenger. 'There is a deep feeling of injustice among my players because it is quite clear there was no contact. It feels like we have been robbed.

'Sol Campbell told me there had been no contact and in situations like that, the referee has to be sure.

'I didn't look obvious to me but look at the record of the referee in matches involving Manchester United. That tells you all you need to know.'

Riley has a history of awarding penalties for the Old Trafford side, including two in one game against Liverpool a couple of seasons ago.

Sir Alex Ferguson believed the Leeds official had an impossible job, claiming Patrick Vieira was running the game during the first half because 'he was always by the referee's side'.

Not surprisingly, Wenger saw things differently.

The Frenchman said: 'We are not happy about the penalty, or the tackle by Rio Ferdinand on Freddie Ljungberg in the first half, or the fact Reyes was kicked off the park.

'Ashley Cole has a big bruise on his shin and nearly didn't come out for the second half after the incident with van Nistelrooy.

'But these type of tactics are exactly what I expected from Manchester United.

'This is what they always do when they are in a difficult situation and playing against us.

'It's disappointing because we were the better team. They hardly had a chance in either half before the penalty, so it's natural we are not happy.

'But we can only look after our own performance, we can't do anything about the referee.

'I am proud of my players and we are still a great side. Now we just have to go on another unbeaten run.'

Wenger denied reports there had been a post-match bust-up in the tunnel, although there had been a series of running feuds throughout the game, including one between Roy Carroll and Thierry Henry, who became increasingly frustrated at the time taken by the Irishman to pick the ball up in his own area once the hosts had gone in front.

The Arsenal boss remained bullish about his team's title chances, even though United have now closed the gap on them to eight points and second-placed Chelsea, whose owner Roman Abramovich was watching from the stands, are only two points adrift.

For Ferguson though, it was the perfect outcome to a must-win game, with the extra satisfaction of Van Nistelrooy putting the misery of his penalty miss in the corresponding fixture last term well and truly behind him.

'It has taken over a year but I am so pleased he had a chance to put what happened last season behind him,' said the Scot.

'I was just starting to think about making a substitution when we got the penalty.

'It looked clear enough to me. If someone gets brought down in the area, the decision is automatic.

'As for the Ferdinand situation, the referee got it right again. Ljungberg wasn't getting the ball, he wasn't beating Rio for pace, so the next best thing is to try and get the referee to make a decision.'
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IMHO everything Wenger said was true, and I especially like the point of how its not an isolated incident, this ****** happens every game Man U play.

by **JBG** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:11 pm

Off topic.

by **A.B.** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:28 pm

Wenger now knows how we feel when we play at Old Fatford.

by **L-type** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:32 pm

Hows it off topic?

by **A.B.** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:12 pm

L-type wrote:Hows it off topic?

Thats the question of the ages.

by **the great one** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:15 am

L-type wrote:Hows it off topic?

cus it was in the Liverpool FC General Discussion forum thats why

by **greenred** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:26 am

Rooney is a fat faced cheating little fu.ck.He`s right at home at old trafford.

by **JBG** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:38 am

L-type wrote:Hows it off topic?

Nothing wrong with it at all but it was posted in the wrong forum.

by **the great one** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:41 am

greenred wrote:Rooney is a fat faced cheating little fu.ck.He`s right at home at old trafford.

to think he's one of us yet he not only signs for a club that h8's scouser he's enjoying playing for them but i can see why they got the penalty. wat a diver they was contact but very little from the highlights i saw put the turning point came when rio should of bein sent off for bringing down ljunberg. if the ref didn't blow the whistle for a foul then he should of booked ljunberg for diving as rio was clearly the last man he would of bein sent off. i heard reyes was in the wars with some vicious tackles but its clear where mike rileys loyalty lies.

by **JBG** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:44 am

Apparently an Arsenal player threw PEA SOUP at Ferguson in the dressing room after the game!!!!!!

by **A.B.** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:48 am

Hahah, I would had done the same thing. What is this the 500,000th game the Mancs have cheated to win at home?

by **JBG** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:51 am

But PEA SOUP?

A bit gay.....but you have to laugh.

by **L-type** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:10 am

hahah yeah, i also heard the was a rumble in the tunnel as both sides walked off, being Henry and Carrol as Thierry was ****** off at Carrol's time wasting techniques.

by **L-type** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:34 am

in the article wenger said look at his record and you will see, i found his record and just by looking at the first match i can see hes right

http://www.footballanorak.com/referee.html?ref_id=10

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