‘Sterling knows he dived,’ says Wenger
ARSENE Wenger insists even Raheem Sterling knows he dived against Arsenal – but says any of his strikers would have done the same.
The City forward was fouled in the box by Nacho Monreal to earn a penalty during the Etihad clash earlier this month to help the Blues win the match and leave Wenger spitting feathers .
His assertion that ‘we know that Sterling dives well’ was slammed by just about everyone on the planet, with MOTD pundit Alan Shearer calling on the Gunners boss to apologise to the player he liked enough to try and sign in the summer.
A week on from the furore, Wenger has attempted to clarify his comments in much the same way that the Foreign Secretary tried to reverse the mess he has created.
“I didn’t say that in a negative way, I said he used the fact he was in front of our defender [Monreal] to dive and he dived,” he said.
“In a few years he’ll say that as well. In the heat of the moment he’ll deny it.
“He used well his position to get in front. A penalty is a deliberate foul in the box, it’s not a provoked foul in the box. That’s where the difference is and in big games like that you have to look at the defender and what he’s doing, not what the striker is doing.
“The striker will always go down. If it was one of my strikers he would certainly have gone down as well. It was not to blame Raheem Sterling, he used his advantage to fool the referee. That’s what he did. I don’t blame Sterling, I just said it was a dive.” IF they weren’t at the start of the season, City have now become a regular talking point with their rivals.
The eight-point lead they have accumulated at the top of the Premier League title means that every game won, lost or drawn by the chasing pack is inevitably framed within the context of how it impacts on Pep Guardiola’s side.
It is a tough game for players and managers to win, trying to show respect for the start the Blues have made while not going too far into David Moyes mode and sounding utterly beaten before the season has hit the halfway point.
Some are better at it than others, and comments have also changed over the last few months as City have built up their winning run.
Here is a look at some of the things that have been coming out of opposition camps about City since the season began.
UNITED Jose Mourinho, September 6, (possibly or possibly not about City...): “To play very well and win, that is perfection. But, if you cannot have that perfection, you cannot hide [behind] ‘my game is beautiful’ and win nothing.
“You have to go to win — and to win with the qualities that you have... If a manager defends a doctrine of ‘I win and I play amazingly well,’ I applaud.
“But the ones who don’t win, who defend something that I don’t understand? I don’t get it.” Ander Herrera, September 18: “Man City have spent the biggest amount in the Premier League so they are the principal contenders for the title.
“We will try to be there as well. We have quality as well and we will fight. But I think because of the money they have spent they are the favourites. There is always pressure when you spend a lot but there is also pressure on us because we are the biggest club in England.
“We won three titles last season and City didn’t win anything. They need titles. They are obligated to win titles. We won three last season so they have more obligation than us.” Mourinho, November 5: “We are worried, but there are 18 teams more worried than us because we are second.
“Eight points in the Premier League is not the same in Portugal, La Liga or the Bundesliga.
“Yes, it is eight points but there is still a lot of play. I hope, feel, think and wish that in the busy festive period and new year we are going to be at maximum strength with Paul Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo back.”
TOTTENHAM Danny Rose, August 10: “I know it was only pre-season but I watched the game against Man City and I was just in awe of City.
“They only had Kyle Walker, Danilo and the goalkeeper Ederson out of the players they’ve just bought.
“Speaking to some lads when they got back, they’re saying: ‘City are taking off £200m and then they are bringing on Aguero, Toure and Sane.’ That just speaks volumes to me. Hugo Lloris, October 30: “Before, even now, we don’t really talk about the title.
“The target is to be as consistent as possible, to stay at the top of the table, ready to fight. The season is still long.
“City have a good advantage at the moment but every team is going to have their momentum and their bad moment too, so we just need to be consistent and be ready in the final sprint in March and April.” Mauricio Pochettino, November 3: “They are the most in-form team in Europe.
“They are doing very well in the Premier League and Champions League showing unbelievable performances.
“The challenge for them is to be consistent for the whole season but they show great quality. Today, right now, they are the best team in Europe.”
CHELSEA Gary Cahill, October 2: “We’re in October, so let’s get to Christmas, January time – hopefully we’ll be in and around the top and then we’ll see from there.
“We’re experienced in it, but it’s disappointing to lose points here against Manchester City.
“We proved last season we’ve got enough to win the league, but we realise it’s very difficult.
“We’ve done it twice since I’ve been here and both times it’s been extremely difficult. Look at the strength of the teams around us, but it’s just important that we fight to the end.” Antonio Conte, November 3: “I think that, now, there is a big problem for all the teams that want to fight for the title, and this big problem is Manchester City.
“Because, if Manchester City continue in this way, I think this is the big problem for all the teams who are thinking about fighting for the title.
“If they continue in this way, it will be very difficult to fight for the title. But, for sure, we have to try to do our best in every game.” Eden Hazard, November 9: “Kevin (de Bruyne) is definitely the best player in the Premier League at the moment.
“City are the best Premier League