Wenger dodges Welbeck diving row

LONDON — Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger refused to condemn Danny Welbeck after the striker was accused of diving to win the penalty that inspired the Gunners’ 3-1 win over AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday.

After taking the first leg of the last-16 tie 2-0 in Milan last week, Wenger’s side was in danger of blowing its lead when Hakan Calhanoglu gave the Italians a first-half lead at Emirates Stadium.

However, moments after Calhanoglu’s goal, England international Welbeck turned the second leg back in Arsenal’s favor when he appeared to dive to win a penalty that he converted himself.

With their nerves steadied, the Gunners eased through 5-1 on aggregate thanks to second-half goals from Granit Xhaka and Welbeck.

Welbeck’s theatrics were condemned by pundits, while Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson was slammed for being tricked by the playacting.

“It’s a definite dive,” former Arsenal defender Martin Keown told BT Sport, while ex-Tottenham star Jermaine Jenas said: “Welbeck doesn’t feel any contact apart from his own feet connecting with themselves and he goes over.”

Wenger, though, was reticent about the controversy.

“I haven’t seen it again. You want to accuse English players to be divers?” said the Frenchman.

“Was it a penalty? I don’t know, the Italian players were not happy. I can understand that, but I don’t know what happened.

“I will watch it again and give you my honest opinion. I will give Danny my opinion as well, no problem.”

Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso raged at ref Eriksson at halftime over the dubious spotkick but opted against criticizing Welbeck.