Shoot the divers
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has fired the first salvo at bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their English Premier League clash at Wembley today. The Frenchman has aimed a dig at Spurs stars Dele Alli and Harry Kane by claiming English players are
LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has aimed a dig at Tottenham stars Dele Alli and Harry Kane by claiming English players are now the “masters” of diving.
Wenger was responding to Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino’s claim that simulation is just another way of tricking opponents in a bid to win matches.
And ahead of today’s North London derby, the Gunners boss’ comments could be seen as a jibe at Alli and Kane after the controversial 2-2 draw at Liverpool last week.
Alli was booked for diving for the third time in his career, while Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk accused Kane of taking a tumble to win the first of two penalties.
Wenger said: “I am convinced that he wanted to say that tricking your opponent is to say that you have to be clever.
“How far was it an apology for diving? I’m not sure at all. I don’t think he would.
“In my personal case? No. We have to get the diving out of the game.
“I remember there were tremendous cases here when foreign players did it but I must say the English players have learned very quickly and they might even be the masters now.”
Wenger added: “I don’t encourage them to dive at all.
“Sometimes you want your players to be intelligent, they have played a little bit with the rules, they make more of it on the penalty case.
“Every striker will do that. They extend a little bit the rules. Where is it and how far can you go?
“That is down to the referees and I think that sometimes, at normal speed, it is very difficult to determine, I must say.”
But Wenger did admit in Kane, Tottenham have the best finisher around in Europe.
He was asked if there was anyone better than the England striker around, and said: “If you look at the numbers no, because he has high numbers.
“But our strikers are top class as well and we want them to express their talent.
“I can talk and talk and talk about how to defend against him, but it’s the numbers which will show that.
“The best way to defend is to have the numbers and take the game to them.”
Wenger will decide today whether if Petr Cech is fit enough to play after suffering a calf injury in the win over Everton.
Wenger said: “We had a few problems with Petr Cech, who we are not sure about at the moment because he’s not trained.
“I don’t know if he will be available.
“I will not take any risk if he’s not 100% fit, for sure, because I have full confidence in David Ospina.”